Back story: It's the night before our Spain group heads to Madrid for a weekend excursion. Ricardo has told us to meet at the bus station promptly at 7:10. We're taking the city bus- not ours and it leaves at 7:30 and won't wait.
(from my journal about 10 minutes after it happened)
This morning my alarm was set for 5:45 so I could leave by 6:45, meet at the "acueducto" at 7, and find my way with friends to the bus station by 7:10. What happened is that I remember waking up and turning my alarm clock off but I don't remember falling back asleep... I was just kinda laying in bed trying to persuade myself to get out. So anyways, I finally wake up and think "shoot! I fell asleep! I wonder how much time I have left?" Not even DREAMING that my watch would say what it did. 7:10. I died. I stared open eyed and open mouthed at my watch for a slow motion 2 seconds before I shot out of my bed like it was a high voltage electric current. I had missed our meeting time and WOKEN UP at the time we were supposed to BE THERE. Lucky for me, the bus doesn't leave till 7:30 but- still... "Can I even still make it?" I thought. Then a small still voice said "I'll take care of you." I opted to do nothing but throw clothes on, stuff pajamas and lunch into my backpack, and literally run out the door. Seriously- I still had my retainers in... the only way I could make it is if I ran. So I did. The voice said "this is a lesson in humility" and it was... I had to not care what people thought of me as this crazy american bolted through the still darkened quiet streets of Segovia, Spain with a huge backpack thumping and bumping around all the while. I had wanted to meet at the aqueduct to walk to the bus station with others so I wouldn't get lost. This occurred to me and I panicked. The voice said "I will take care of you. Only do what you know to do- try your hardest, and I'll do the rest." And I ran on, remembering that I'd just figured out where the station was and praying I was right. It usually takes me a good 7 minutes mall walking it to the aqueduct. I made it in 2. Yeah, I was bookin' it. I had to walk a little then and all the while God told me "Don't worry, trust me, I've got things under control and I'll take care of you". The whole situation had become a bit of a metaphor for my life by now. Right then I struggled a bit and handed it all over. "I know you've got me covered and I believe you. I have no idea how this could possibly work out, but yes, I believe you." I thought. Instantly I knew I would make it and was granted peace over other areas of my life. I remembered exactly where the station was, began to run again, and got there 3 minutes before the bus pulled away- Just enough time for a still much needed morning bathroom visit. A lesson in humility when everyone sees my morning face, hair, and general zombie appearance, and a reminder that it doesn't matter when I'm greeted with a hug. I scrambled on the bus and shortly, we departed. I'm thankful God was there with me the whole time. I woke up at the EXACT last moment I possibly could have. If I had done my hair, make up, or eaten breakfast, I wouldn't have made it. If I had brushed my teeth, or even gone to the bathroom, I wouldn't have made it. (I decided that was my punishment- morning retainer breath and my military morning run) In life there are consequences for our actions. The repercussions hurt, but we can trust God to be there the whole time, helping us lay aside our pride and reach the goal he has for us. If we trust him, he'll take care of us and get us where we need to go. If everything was certain to succeed, we wouldn't lean as heavily on him.
So, I saw God in many ways Saturday morning. Needless to say, I NEVER want to re-live that again... EVER.
(from my journal about 10 minutes after it happened)
This morning my alarm was set for 5:45 so I could leave by 6:45, meet at the "acueducto" at 7, and find my way with friends to the bus station by 7:10. What happened is that I remember waking up and turning my alarm clock off but I don't remember falling back asleep... I was just kinda laying in bed trying to persuade myself to get out. So anyways, I finally wake up and think "shoot! I fell asleep! I wonder how much time I have left?" Not even DREAMING that my watch would say what it did. 7:10. I died. I stared open eyed and open mouthed at my watch for a slow motion 2 seconds before I shot out of my bed like it was a high voltage electric current. I had missed our meeting time and WOKEN UP at the time we were supposed to BE THERE. Lucky for me, the bus doesn't leave till 7:30 but- still... "Can I even still make it?" I thought. Then a small still voice said "I'll take care of you." I opted to do nothing but throw clothes on, stuff pajamas and lunch into my backpack, and literally run out the door. Seriously- I still had my retainers in... the only way I could make it is if I ran. So I did. The voice said "this is a lesson in humility" and it was... I had to not care what people thought of me as this crazy american bolted through the still darkened quiet streets of Segovia, Spain with a huge backpack thumping and bumping around all the while. I had wanted to meet at the aqueduct to walk to the bus station with others so I wouldn't get lost. This occurred to me and I panicked. The voice said "I will take care of you. Only do what you know to do- try your hardest, and I'll do the rest." And I ran on, remembering that I'd just figured out where the station was and praying I was right. It usually takes me a good 7 minutes mall walking it to the aqueduct. I made it in 2. Yeah, I was bookin' it. I had to walk a little then and all the while God told me "Don't worry, trust me, I've got things under control and I'll take care of you". The whole situation had become a bit of a metaphor for my life by now. Right then I struggled a bit and handed it all over. "I know you've got me covered and I believe you. I have no idea how this could possibly work out, but yes, I believe you." I thought. Instantly I knew I would make it and was granted peace over other areas of my life. I remembered exactly where the station was, began to run again, and got there 3 minutes before the bus pulled away- Just enough time for a still much needed morning bathroom visit. A lesson in humility when everyone sees my morning face, hair, and general zombie appearance, and a reminder that it doesn't matter when I'm greeted with a hug. I scrambled on the bus and shortly, we departed. I'm thankful God was there with me the whole time. I woke up at the EXACT last moment I possibly could have. If I had done my hair, make up, or eaten breakfast, I wouldn't have made it. If I had brushed my teeth, or even gone to the bathroom, I wouldn't have made it. (I decided that was my punishment- morning retainer breath and my military morning run) In life there are consequences for our actions. The repercussions hurt, but we can trust God to be there the whole time, helping us lay aside our pride and reach the goal he has for us. If we trust him, he'll take care of us and get us where we need to go. If everything was certain to succeed, we wouldn't lean as heavily on him.
So, I saw God in many ways Saturday morning. Needless to say, I NEVER want to re-live that again... EVER.