Two weeks ago, Sam and I were at the airport, anxious to be on our way. Barcelona was calling, and Kosovo wasn't looking so great. We'd just had a brutal month of goodbyes: Sam's parents, mine, and then leaving our year-long church home.* All I wanted to do was get out. Find somewhere to recover from it all.
And then our flight got canceled.
And then our flight got canceled.
Barcelona calling...
We gathered our baggage—literally and metaphorically, it seemed—and stood in line to get rebooked. I was so disappointed. I had felt like God was giving us this trip to refresh and heal us, and now days were being trimmed away.
It was the last straw in a series of divine curveballs. A tiny, powerful idea set up camp in my mind: I don't know you anymore, God. No matter how much I wanted it not to be true, it seemed so. God was doing his own thing, and I was outside, confused.
As we went through the rebooking process, we met Lisa, who was on the same flight. She'd been working in northern Kosovo, and was on her way home to Germany. The instant we met her, I knew we needed to invite her to stay with us. I asked her if she had anywhere to go, and she said she didn't. Sam and I looked at one another, both knowing, and we offered her our guest room for the night.
Once our plan was settled, I clicked into hospitality mode, thinking of clean sheets and dinner options rather than nursing my wounds. It was a relief, actually, to have someone to care for. And Lisa was a wonderful guest.
It was the last straw in a series of divine curveballs. A tiny, powerful idea set up camp in my mind: I don't know you anymore, God. No matter how much I wanted it not to be true, it seemed so. God was doing his own thing, and I was outside, confused.
As we went through the rebooking process, we met Lisa, who was on the same flight. She'd been working in northern Kosovo, and was on her way home to Germany. The instant we met her, I knew we needed to invite her to stay with us. I asked her if she had anywhere to go, and she said she didn't. Sam and I looked at one another, both knowing, and we offered her our guest room for the night.
Once our plan was settled, I clicked into hospitality mode, thinking of clean sheets and dinner options rather than nursing my wounds. It was a relief, actually, to have someone to care for. And Lisa was a wonderful guest.
The pinnacle of Steere hospitality: giraffe mugs.
After Indian food and tea together, I crawled into bed with my Bible, hoping to make sense of the day. Helping Lisa had been worth it, certainly, but my heart was still hurting. The Holy Spirit led me right to Matthew 25:
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
It couldn't have been any clearer to me: You know me, Liz. You've been in the center of my plan the whole time.
In that instant, the months of doubting my every move dissolved. I still didn't understand everything that had happened, but I remembered something more important: I know Jesus. I know his character. I know his plan is good. And I know he is including me in it.
Better yet, one day, when he and I meet in heaven, we'll recognize each other right away. Because we've been working together this whole time. And now, he's slept in my guest room.
In that instant, the months of doubting my every move dissolved. I still didn't understand everything that had happened, but I remembered something more important: I know Jesus. I know his character. I know his plan is good. And I know he is including me in it.
Better yet, one day, when he and I meet in heaven, we'll recognize each other right away. Because we've been working together this whole time. And now, he's slept in my guest room.
In Paris, with the Eiffel Tower behind us.
The rest of the story is easier to tell. After another slight delay, our second flight took off. Lisa went home, and we continued on to Barcelona, and then Paris. We had a lovely vacation (albeit a little shorter than we'd hoped), and are looking towards the next six months with healing in our hearts.
May you know God, as he knows you. May we invite him in to stay.
Liz
*Note: Though we affirm the unity of all believers in Christ, and though we love the leaders of our former church, we felt it necessary to leave based on doctrinal issues and the health of our hearts. Please join us in praying for a new church home for us in Prishtina.
May you know God, as he knows you. May we invite him in to stay.
Liz
*Note: Though we affirm the unity of all believers in Christ, and though we love the leaders of our former church, we felt it necessary to leave based on doctrinal issues and the health of our hearts. Please join us in praying for a new church home for us in Prishtina.
