“For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7a
"Brush Puppy"
The “happy car fairy” and I were at odds. Time was of the essence and I had not one but three cars with issues. The Blanche the Bonneville had overheated the night before coming up the mountain I live on (thank you God it happened near a spot I could pull off the narrow road), blew a hose and had to be towed to the mechanic.
Get to the mechanic and pick up the previously dropped off VW, pay, drive off the lot, only to have Mabel stall, die and coast to a stop at the side of the road. Back to the mechanic she went.
Call a coworker who picks me up, ferries me back up the hill so I can change and prep for another coworkers wedding that afternoon. I barely get dressed and my phone rings… yep, car number three in distress.
A third coworker and two others are stranded beside the highway due to a tire blow-out. They are all in wedding attire. So me, in fancy dress (and flats, the high heels are in a bag) takes off to “rescue” the stranded motorists.
I arrive. The guys skedaddle in the car I drove with all the wedding catering and hospitality supplies leaving me and my female coworker on the side of the road… in 100 degree heat, gushing wind and dust tornados with each passing car (did I mention we were next to a freeway?). We sit in the car, melting (makeup sliding off our faces, perfume losing power, and hair wilting by the second) and wait for roadside assistance guy – who keeps getting lost.
By this point my patience was wearing very, very, very thin. My coworker has a cute British/South African accent. The assistance dude, unable to understand her kept saying “What? What?” so I ended up talking to him. I was totally befuddled how one could get lost heading south on a freeway - we were the only car for MILES parked alongside the road.
At one point a sharp tonged comment came out of my mouth. My coworkers blue eyes widened and quietly asked for the phone by holding out her hand. I gave it to her and with each “What? What?” she slowly repeated herself over and over and over until he eventually arrived.
We made it to the wedding with the spare leaking air, wind tossed hair (not a good thing), makeup essentially gone and smelling not so fantastic. The valets must have had a great laugh at our arrival. Less than ten minutes in the bathroom and we were set to rights and rushed off to help with the final wedding prep.
Out of the heart the mouth speaks.
What was in my heart during the above scenario? Anger, frustration, irritation, judgment and a whole bunch of other not so good stuff. What came out? A sharp tonged comment that, thankfully, the assistance dude hopefully didn’t hear due to the wind and surrounding car noise – but my coworker did.
What is in your heart? How does it shape your responses in stressful situations? How do you react when all seems against you and the “hope” is delayed and delayed and delayed? What are you speaking?
Updates:
Travel – South Korea in November! I am excited to visit Seoul and see a few friends… Joann Cook and Songhwa Yang here we come!
Work – The Big Weekend retreat went really, really well. No huge logistical snafu’s, no accidents, and God showed up in very powerful, impactful and meaningful ways.
Personal – Cars are still in need but holding together. It is like they know we are looking for replacements and are intentionally behaving themselves.
Requests:
Travel – Tickets, accommodations, agenda, team finalization etc. for all our upcoming travel – Beijing, Seoul, Chennai…
Work – For upcoming international venture and speaking engagements.
Personal – God has been talking to me about rest – its true definition – Psalm 127 will most likely have a blog post at some point. Please pray I would understand God’s definition and get a good picture of what it looks like practically.
P.S. On the way home from the wedding my blue-eyed coworker filled the spare car tire and arrived home safely. But, another coworker was pulled over by the police because her headlight decided to blink and then go out… it was a fantastic car day all around!
P.P.S. Check out the latest social media - one spot stop for about.me.
P.P.P.S. Happy belated birthday to Kelley Weeks, Teryn Rikert, Andy Cottrill and Brian Miller!
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