Muddy Rivers

by Mike

Sitting at our table overlooking the Tenwek river this morning pondering the worldwide events we are all experiencing together yet separately. Hard to imagine beforehand. I imagine much of what we are discussing around our tables and on our devices is quite similar. And stressful.

I happen to be reading 1 Thessalonians 3 today and I find it remarkably appropriate. For those reading this who are trusting their lives to Jesus (and for those who are not - keep reading, I think you will find something you can relate to), it is an incredible mix of the challenges of this life with the hope of what is to come. 

When we decided to trust in Jesus, most, if not all of us, had someone who influenced us in that journey. And now perhaps we have been that person for someone else. It’s an incredible process. Reading this passage of the Bible, you  can feel the compassion and value and joy on both sides of this. 

The final paragraph points to the essential and amazing impact of God in our walk along the path. He is the one who creates within us the men and women we so long to be. Who generates the love in our hearts for one another. Not just between those who share the same hope and trust in Jesus. But a love that extends to all of those around us on this planet we call Earth.

In days like these that most of us find difficult to deal with and to process, I believe that we can hold on to our hope in Jesus and focus on loving one another. 

The details of how that love shows up may be different. For some, it may mean going in to a hospital to work - risking oneself for the sake of others. For others, it may mean staying home - reducing the speed of spread of this virus. For others, it may mean dropping off groceries to those most at risk so they can avoid going out. Still others will be active online, creating content like music and prayer and encouraging words as we are separated in so many ways. I could make a long list.

This morning watching our muddy river that gives us water and electricity, I am reminded of the good that God can bring from something. I pray that each one of us can see our part to play in this new world.

For Julie and I, we were in the US for two weeks visiting a family member whose cancer had recurred. It was a challenging decision to return to Kenya on our scheduled flight last weekend as borders were closing, the US State Department issued its strongest warning against such travel, the flight itself was a significant exposure to our family, perhaps bringing the virus with us to a rural resource limited location, looking at our two children and knowing the healthcare limitations we still have at Tenwek… In the end, we felt God asking us to return home to Tenwek and to serve here - loving on our friends and neighbors along with the patients at Tenwek Hospital. All of our leaders and parents agreed. That in itself was surprising. So we discussed it with Eden who prayed and also agreed - though she didn’t want to leave family. Caleb continued to shoot things with his Legos…

So now we are here at home in Tenwek. All healthy so far. Homeschool back in full swing. One week of quarantine done, one week to go. Then I will begin working in the hospital. We don’t have any known or suspected cases at Tenwek so far but I expect them to come soon.

My prayer for all of us is that we will know the love of God shown to us in Jesus. To experience that for ourselves. To rest in his love for us. And to share that love with those around us.

“And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.” 

1 Th 3:12–13 NLT