The First Few Days in LA

It has been my experience that when I’m in a time of action...when I’m on track Spiritually and feel like I’ve been given a purpose; when I’m moving toward that purpose; obstacles come up...opportunities if you will.  They may be a simple departure from what I thought my schedule was going to be, an illness, etc.  But I have also noticed that the more important the purpose, the more opportunities I have.  My experience in this area has been confirmed by my first few days in LA, before the conference began.

On the plane I felt God suggest that I spend some time in my Bible.  I don’t like reading my Bible in sight of strangers because I don’t want to be mistaken for one of those obnoxious Christians.  You know the type right?  Pushy and invasive...”have you been saved brother?”  I make no judgement on the state of their hearts, but I have never heard of Jesus interacting with anyone like that.  So I argued with God.  I kept hearing Him say that I would get a gift if I did it.  So finally I put down my Kindle and got out my Bible (Yes, I admit it, I tried to hide the cover.  God’s not done with me yet.)  

Here was my gift...Matthew 25:14-33.  It’s the parable about investments; one servant getting 5000 talents, another 2000, and another 1000.  The first two servants doubled their investment and the last buried it to keep it “safe.”   The last servant gets chastised by his master.  “The master was furious.  That’s a terrible way to live!  It’s criminal to live cautiously like that!  If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?  The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.  Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most.  And get rid of this ‘play it safe’ who won’t go out on a limb.” (The Message) 

 I feel like I’m out on a limb much of the time.  Much of what I’m doing currently is a new skill set.  But I feel called to it.  I’m risking just like He asks me to do.  Walking in faith.

Opportunity #1, Gift #1

Susan and I met with a dear friend of mine on Sunday.  She is a vibrant amazing woman who I got to know through Marcel when I moved to LA.  I adore her and her story will just blow you away (maybe I’ll interview her for the blog someday.)  Yesterday though, I noticed she wasn’t quite the same as when I last saw her.  She was still funny and warm and beautiful, but there was an edge.  A sadness.  As we all talked over lunch she shared about the struggles she’s been having.  Longing to have a baby, in a church more legalistic than alive, struggling with what she feels she’s been taught and what feels like it’s killing her spirit.  We ended up coming back to the hotel and doing some serious talking with God in which there were tears and hugs.  She told us that she had been hesitant to talk to God lately but what prayer life she had consisted of, “I’m lost, help me.”  “Send me something.”  She left at peace.  I thought we were just going to have brunch and go shopping.  God had other plans.

Opportunity #2, Gift #2

About 24 hours after arriving I got a stomachache.  To give you a sense of what it felt like I would say picture someone taking your stomach out, scraping it up on the inside with a fork so it’s nice and red and raw, and then letting fire ants loose in it.  Pepto Bismal didn’t touch it, but I was still getting hungry at meal times...can we say infuriating?  Susan prayed for me, but nothing shifted.  For two days it ached.  I was a bit whiny I must admit.  I had been looking forward to visiting my favorite eateries for weeks.  I questioned God, and in general drove Susan crazy.  The night before the conference was to begin I announced to Susan, God, and whoever else was listening, that I knew I was at the conference for a reason and that nothing was going to stop me from being there.  That I would “drag my sorry butt to the meetings stomach ache or not.”  I topped this proclamation off by announcing, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper!”  The next morning I woke up with no pain....and promptly lost my wallet...yes, the entire thing.  I had asked God to increase my faith while I was doing my meditation that morning...I have learned it is best not to play around with that particular request. Lol.  I found the wallet (It had fallen out of my purse in the rental car that we had already returned) and the man who returned it got several enthusiastic hugs from me.

Opportunity #3 & 4, Gift #3 &4

After all this, the conference began.  It was amazing.  I felt like I got my MBA in a week and the gifts were incredible.  I’ll share about some of the things I learned in future blogs.  

Opportunities 5-1 Million, Gifts 5-1 Million

For now, since this particular post is getting long, I will sign off saying that the opportunities that came up made me realize that when I’m living in my purpose, I will be attacked, the bigger the attack, the bigger the threat I am.  Anne Lamott, one of my favorite authors, talks about the idea that the bigger the difficulty the more important the thing is that is being birthed.  

What’s being birthed in you right now?  What are the opportunities that are disguised as obstacles?  Remember as you navigate it that the bigger the difficulty, the bigger the gift at the end.