In whose steps we are following

"..I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.."

Today I was supposed to blog about Acts 16: the Philippian jailer. However in the last 48 hours Turkey and Greece have both dumped record amounts of snow. Due to this Midwest-like weather that we had all hoped to briefly escape, we haven't been able to travel as expected. Some sights are postponed, others delayed indefinitely, all while our Greek tour-guide is stranded in the Athens airport, away from us, due to the snow. Needless to say, the trip has not gone as planned.

Speaking for myself, on this trip I have sprained an ankle to a nice purple color, and spent an entire day with my face in a bucket in the bus exit, or as the Greeks would say, vomitorium (if you catch my drift...).

This series of unfortunate events considered, I'm moved to reflect on the missionary in whose steps we are following. Paul said he had learned to to be "content in any circumstance". I would have to check the original Greek, but I am quite certain it's not, "content in every circumstance...because it could always be worse". What I mean is this: the Christian life is not one of upward or downward comparison. I often find myself trying to find the silver lining in times like this trip, by thinking, "at least I have a warm bed and meals to eat at the end of the day." Unfortunately, this mindset cheapens the hope that comes with the Gospel of Christ.

Indeed, when a nightmare ever does unfold, perspective is a lovely hand to hold, but we do not follow Christ because there could be worse things. No, we follow Christ in our hope for the best of all things.

So for the few relatives of ours reading these blogs, pray for us on the rest of this trip: Pray that we have far more than good perspectives, sunny dispositions, or rose-colored glasses. Pray that when we get sprained ankles, food poisoning, or snow delays, our first thought isn't, "well it could be worse". Pray that we return from this trip with more than just factoids about the Bible, but that we are able to embody the love and grace of scripture more fully once it's over.

In the lives of Jesus and Paul, whenever things are seemingly wrong and terrible, God is fashioning something beautiful, furthering His kingdom through it. I hope in all circumstances, this is enough to keep us content.

-Anthony