REMINISCE...A DREAMY WAY OF REMEMBERING

Life is a sum of all your choices.
- Albert Camus

Is life really the sum of all one's choices?  Asking me?  Well, yes...I think our lives consist of a variety of choices that we'd never dreamed of...never ever!  We were always happy as two bugs in a rug...going through life making rapid changes whenever needed...paramount, of course, has always been God in our lives!  His direction.  Changes and choices...add them together and we have our lives. 

 

Some of you will remember portions of my words (years ago); many of you haven't known me very long so this will be new to you.  I'm asking in advance...forgive me for 'reminiscing'...but I've an inkling you'll enjoy looking into a part of our lives you know little of.  Of course the choice is yours ~ interested?  Let's go!

 

In February, 2002 Michael and I took our RV to South Texas for a while; decided to stop en route home at ACU for part of their annual lectureship.  M wandered into the exhibition hall looking for a publishing company that had some books on gerontology.  We'd thought we might work with older people (like us) and a friend had recommended some books from the New Leaf publisher. 

 

Well, we found a new leaf all right, but it wasn't in the books...it was in a tiny booth with a few pictures of people teaching in China.  Who knew anything about China???  Surely not us...we were innocent bystanders!  M asked a few questions of the booth-tender who gave him a couple of pamphlets and that was it.  Short encounter?  Yep, sure was!  The encounter of our life, we soon realized.

 

We poured over the pamphlets; including letters written by some young Americans teaching in China...read them over and over again.  Jumped in Henry, our speedy Dodge pick-up, and beat it back to the exhibition hall and what???  The booth and the operators had vanished...packed up and out of there.  Another short encounter...very, very short.

 

M and I were hooked...totally hooked.  God touched us and we were in His pocket...bound for China!  Whatever in the world?  You know, Jacob wrestled with an Angel, Peter denied Christ?  This person, me...Vasca...had the audacity to argue with God; I wrestled with an emotional crises coupled with strong denials...took me down! 

 

THE CALL

I prayed "God, use my talents, A diff'rence I would make" ~

"Careful what you ask, my child Your comfort zone I'll shake.

 

Here's the opportunity, China! Such a shame!

A billion live in darkness there, they've never heard my name.

 

I've opened wide a door for you; Step through, it's so exciting

Cold stark fear took hold of me. "Please God, please stop inviting".

 

Singing songs like, "Lord, Send Me", the words stuck in my throat!

Here I was, denying Him, I really missed the boat.

 

Bitter tears ~ surrendering, then calm replaced the strife.

No more fear! I just believe! God's managing my life.

...by Vasca

February 2002

 

Next post...if you're hooked...God works some stunning developments.

 

From my heart...to yours,

Vasca