We get so wrapped up in our worldly realities. So sure that what we are doing or creating is the best. The best for us. The best for our kids. The best for our family. It is what we were taught as kids. There is nothing wrong with it, but sometimes letting go of our plans creates a whole new level of ‘best’.
We are again in Costa Rica but this time for the month of July. It was a difficult road to get here because at many times, I did not want to come. Business is crazy. We have a ton of work to do and I really felt like I needed to be there to help get it done. I was worried that we did not pray enough about coming and that we were doing it in our flesh, mainly because we were scared of what still lies ahead. I worried if we would be able to find our way around alone in San Jose for a month. There were so many things that had me worried and awake early. I had many bad dreams the nights leading up to leaving. I only write this because sometimes it is good to get it out. To shine a little light on some of those fears that keep us trapped.
I was believing the lie that I was in control. I talked to a few guys before leaving and they are always great about giving me truth and that was a huge help. I don’t think I bought all the way in on this visit until yesterday. We got to San Jose on Thursday and rode around getting some of the things that we needed like some food and a mobile phone with map capabilities. We now have turn-by-turn directions. He made that happen for us, despite me. I know this, because I tried to figure it out for a couple of weeks before leaving and my solution was an epic fail. His was perfect! It even comes with automated voice directions from some lady that speaks just as bad of Spanish as the carload of gringos she is directing.
But that was just a minor show of His goodness. What happened yesterday was amazing. We went to the office on Friday and got asked to come to the Capernaum event in Alajuela. We tell our kids to go with the flow; that anything can happen so just go with whatever is happening. Our trip to Capernaum was AWESOME in the go with the flow category. We were to meet at the outlet mall which apparently is not even a mall, but I digress. We just got a few things from the store and were waiting on another kid to show up and we would take off. Capernaum is the special needs ministry for Young Life. It’s beautiful. Sharon had a vision for this and has been key in getting it started here in San Jose. So there we were in the van we are driving and there are two other vans filled with kids & leaders. We all load up and start driving. We hit the mother of all traffic jams. We are driving through the downtown San Jose on a two lane one way road with the other 2 million people in town. We are constantly changing lanes and apparently trying to find the fastest 2 mile an hour lane. Not only are we changing lanes but the motorcycles are driving between the cars and the others guys around us are trying to get between me and my guides. It was nuts. Just when we think we cannot handle another lane change you guessed it. An ambulance! WHAT in the world. So now we are trying to move to the right. The problem is that the gutters are about a foot deep and no doubt would eat our van. As the ambulance approaches, cars do their best to pull to the right but now some guy is driving directly behind the ambulance trying to move 5 cars ahead of us all. Guess they do not have the 500 foot rule. Anyway, we get back in our lanes, (the guy trying to get ahead does not) and we all again begin to proceed ahead on our 2 mile an hour crawl. And then we see the issue….a wreck. Two buses and two small cars. OK so in Costa Rica if you get in a wreck you must stay put. You cannot move the cars until the police arrive. So there they sat. And as we approached, it looked like we had two options. Drive left around the bus with one wheel in the gutter…YIKES…or go up on the sidewalk over the gutter from hell. So I choose sidewalk and turned the wheel right and drive up on the sidewalk with a couple of giant bumps, narrowly avoiding actual people, and all the while the kids were apparently drawing cheers from two dudes standing nearby watching the mayhem. We drove along the sidewalk, crossed back into the street and we were off again. About 45 minutes of boredom followed by 45 seconds of terror. But now we get to say “remember that time we drove on the sidewalk in Costa Rica”? It is only in letting go that we get to have adventure that only He can provide. Not saying I want to do that again ever but that was just the beginning of our journey. At this point, we were pretty much mentally set for anything.
We pulled up to a public indoor/outdoor gym. There was a roof over the place and it was a gym and on the side was a stage. There were about 200 people there. We had just arrived at a Capernaum Talent contest. A month of work, rehearsals, stage sets were all happening today. There were parents and Capernaum kids everywhere. We eased in and we were they only gringos in the entire place. Jeannie and I started taking photos and video for Sharon and the kids were helping. There were a couple of solo singers. Then an act with about 12 kids dressed as Indians. It was amazing and I was standing next to a mother of one of the kids. She was grinning from ear to ear. Her son was on stage and he was staring right at her. There is no way to describe the feelings I felt. It was perfection. Both overflowing with JOY and it was all over the place. The son tried to leave the stage a couple of times during the performance for the HUG. You know the one, think back to when you were a kid on stage. You saw one of your parents. You knew the hug was coming. Well, he did too and he wanted it. The music ended. They all got their names called to a huge round of applause and then he bolted for the HUG. It was amazing to be there and be part of it. I hope telling the story brings a smile to your face because it is one of the great moments in the history of the world. I know that is dramatic, but think about the moments like this going on around the world right now. As I type and now days later as you read this. I know I want to be caught up in more of those moments.
Next, there was a moment when the next act, group of mimes, were about to take the stage. There was a group doing Noah’s ark on stage, too and I am standing with Ella then she points and says “There is a bird in here.” I look up and there is a white dove sitting in the rafters. Literally, no other birds, just one white dove. I knelt down and told her “You know that the Holy Spirit is symbolized by the dove. I think that He is here now. She agreed. I felt it. I felt this amazing scene in a different way. It was as if the entire place was overflowing with JOY and it must have just looked amazing from Heaven above. We all felt it. We showed Jeannie, Libby and Beck the dove and talked about what it meant. The mimes took the stage and as I listened, my heart broke. I started thinking about Keyla. Our friend from Mexico that was taken from her parents. About how I wished she could be part of this. How much she loved to perform and what she might be doing on stage with these mimes. Or would she do a solo singing act. I just could not pull it together. My prayer is that she will find her way to Capernaum, that she will feel the love of a place like that and get to act on a stage. She may not get the HUG that I hope she will from Larry and Nancy but if she is with a Young Life leader I know she will get a HUG.
There was so much JOY in that place and the end of the show was a massive congo line followed with a dance party on stage and more applause for the kids and their parents. The leaders even got some love from the kids and parents.
As we sat around the fire last night I had the thought that we could have missed that event. We could have missed that entire day had we not just said YES. I am grateful for being able to live that day. It was one of my favorites. I look forward to many more just like it as we trust Him to lead more.
From Jesus Calling today
“Let My thoughts burst freely upon your consciousness, stimulating abundant Life. I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. As you follow Me, I lead you along paths of newness: ways you have never imagined. Don’t worry about what is on the road up ahead. I want you to find your security in knowing Me, the One who died to set you free.”
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
—John 8:32
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
—Philippians 2:13