Are You Crazy!?

Currently, I work in a childcare center with toddlers full-time; my ongoing goal is to find a way to communicate God’s love to them in a way that they can understand. That’s often through singing songs, reading stories, and playing pretend. The other day, we were singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”, and at the end of the song we were talking about how BIG God’s hands must be if he can hold the WHOLE world! And to that, one of my little ones held out her hands and responded, “my hands are really little.”
 
Dan and I frequently have people ask us WHY we would give away all our possessions, move away from all our friends and family, and leave all the comforts of America. Why would you move to a country that you’ve never been to, to work in a culture (Deaf culture) that’s foreign to you, within another foreign culture (Romanian), neither of which you know the language? People tell us that we’ve got to be crazy, or that they think we’re really adventurous.

The Fellowship

Today, I want to talk with you about Fellowship. Particularly the Fellowship portrayed in The Lord of the Rings. In the Fellowship of the Ring, there were many individuals working toward a common goal: the destruction of the One Ring. There were many characters, with many different roles.

It was Frodo and Sam’s job to get to Mordor and destroy the Ring in Mount Doom. They were the ones who could get past the orcs and fight the temptation brought by the Ring. Clearly, without Frodo and Sam, the Ring would not have been destroyed. But if it was only Frodo and Sam working, the goal would still not have been accomplished.

Three Years Ago

During my time at Geneva College, it was customary that a few senior classmen would share a message during the final chapel service of the semester.  A month or so before the end of the semester, I overheard that they were looking for some seniors to share.  I had no desire to stand in front of the entire school and speak; but I distinctly remember praying that if someone directly asked me to speak, I would agree.  Well, as you may have guessed, shortly afterward a member of the chapel committee walked up to me and said, “Hey, Dan, do you want to share something during the senior Chapel service?”  Hurmph.  “Okay.” I said, albeit reluctantly.

I graduated in 2013, so this all happened several years ago, and I vaguely remember my presentation.  At one of the chapel services earlier in the year, we learned about human trafficking and slavery. I choose to reflect on the choices that we make, and how whether knowingly or not, we oppose or support human trafficking.  All in all, I thought my talk went well and a few people told me shortly afterward that they would no longer be purchasing items from companies who supported or used slavery.  But it seemed as though that was the only reason I was prompted to speak, and it made me wonder if what I said really did make an impact.