Happy Monday! So my adjustment back to American culture continues. Very characteristic of myself I PUSHED THE ENVELOPE and ventured into the interesting environment of the State Fair with some friends from college. It was great to catch up with Mel, Melissa, Tanya, and Kristin after not seeing them for over 17 months. But I have to be honest that it was a very interesting day for me.
As we walked in, I saw rows and rows of food stands. I had to venture in. It was if they were calling, “Zach we’ve missed you. We are here for you come and delight in the grease and fattiness of all we are. We will comfort you!” I just had to respond and delight in some of this quintessential American food – corn dogs, funnel cakes, jumbo pretzels, and so many more artery clogging foods! My first foray of eating was a corn dog; I nearly had a spiritual experience with my first bite. The plumb juicy hot dog surrounded by deep fried goodness. Mmmmm, my mouth is watering even as I type the words. During my 17 months over seas I didn’t once think about corn dogs, but I certainly missed them!
I had to warn my friends that I might have small breakdowns throughout the day, and if they happened just to give me a minute and everything would be okay. Well, I’m proud to say that I didn’t have any major breakdowns, besides the eyes tearing up in appreciation to the man who dreamt up meat on a stick.
I do want to let you know that I’m not finding my comfort in food, nor the luxuries of American culture. I am enjoying some of the foods and things I’ve missed, but in the past week I’ve had to fall into the Lord in so many ways and at many times. I’m reminded of a lesson I learned while I was in Europe – that it is only God that can uphold and comfort us. We, I, need to be dependent upon Him and nothing else. Not a church, small group, accountability partner, Starbucks coffee, having a car, corn dogs, good friends to process life with or whatever. I’m not saying these things are bad, they are actually great and I think we need to pursue them to help us be dependent on God. Well, maybe not the corn dogs, or the coffee, or the car… What I’m trying to get at is that we lean on these things and not God. It’s not God that is comforting us and holding us up, its things. Paul speaks of God as the comforter in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
Do you need to be comforted today? Before you pick up the phone and call that close to friend, turn to God. Before you open up the fridge to look for that comfort that comes from food, turn to God. Before you run to church to talk to your pastor, your small group leader or your counselor, turn to God. He is there and He WILL comfort you.
Well, I’m currently trying to prepare a brief talk for the Genoa City Lions Club meeting that’s tonight (they financially supported me throughout the past year and a half), nurse my computer back to a working state (if anyone out there feels led to help me out in this department let me know ASAP) and get some things packed for a week stay in Oshkosh.
Please continue to pray for my adjustment back to American culture and that I would have some good time to process my last year and a half. Thank you and I pray you are being a REVOLUTION at this moment!