And when I say morning, I mean morning. I am currently in a plane on the way to Colorado. I left my house at 3:30am to get to the Indy airport. As I sit here with the occasional bump from turbulence, I am realizing the joys of flying during a sunrise, especially when heading West - it is like a 3 hr sunrise! I also looked out the window about an hour ago to see the extreme flooding in the midwest. Please pray for God to be with all those affected by the conditions in any way.
What it comes down to, as I am on the same flight path as I was just over 2 weeks ago with 8 youth and 2 other adults, is remembering and thanking God for the trip that He blessed us with just a few weeks ago. Today was strange as I was was navigating the airport by myself - checking my bag only took about 2 minutes, far cry from the time it takes with a group. Having to sit by strangers on the plane, no team of orange or blue shirts to look for, no rental vehicles to pick up, a week of not being in charge. Before I continue - if you are not aware, I am heading to CO for the baptism of my niece, Norah Rae Lucille Stec on July 10th.
I want to say thanks to each of you who went on the servant event trip a few weeks ago, and a special thanks to the adults who come along. The week was incredible and I struggle putting into words the joy it was to travel, spend time with, and serve with each of you. We thank God for the safe travels, the new friendships formed, the details all coming together like clock work all week long, and for the opportunity to serve Him, and for the faith formation and growth that took place in each of us, only by His grace. You all were, and are, true servants of Christ. I pray that as we are now two weeks removed from the trip, that you are continuing to seek ways to serve Christ. Remember the scripture we looked at, the word SERVE (Saved to Serve, Emptied, Respond, Vocation, Empowered/Equipped). It is easy to serve and to find joy in doing so when we are with a group in a remote setting, having traveled there for that very reason. But when we return to our daily routines and our 'normal' schedule, things change. We are no longer on that high, we have come down from it. We are again surrounded by temptations, the business of our schedule resumes, and suddenly we find ourselves back in the daily grind, just as we were before. No time for God. No quiet time. No prayer. Me - me - me; I - I - I. My schedule. My priorities. My sleep. My fun. No - all these are gifts from God, and those gifts and things which are His, the wonderful things He has so richly blessed us and entrusted us with, we must return to Him. May you, and I, continue to seek those ways to do so. Setting time aside to spend with Him in conversation, continually putting others first, always looking for that way to Serve Him through not only word, but action. May God continue to work in each of you, to strengthen your faith, and your life that is lived for Him.
Saved to Serve,
Caleb
