Disappointment.
I began my Doctor of Ministry (DMin) studies a few months ago, and in late May traveled to the seminary (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) in Hamilton, MA for a two week residency. Kim and Abigail came up to meet me in Boston over the weekend. Our game plan was to "do" Boston as a family.
Saturday began with a long walk along the Freedom Trail. Walking the Freedom Trail made every history book about the Revolution that I have read come to life! We then spent time walking through the farmers market and ate a wonderful dinner in Little Italy.
Then, around 11:30pm, Kim and I were awakened by Abigail struggling to breathe.
An over-night, sleepless trip to the ER gave the result: croup. Many of you who have children may remember the first time your son or daughter struggled with croup, so you can imagine how scary it was for us to deal with this over 450 miles away from our home in Baltimore! Kim and I were together, but we had no social network to support us. So everyone back home did what they could do--they prayed. We got lots of loving text messages from folks throughout the night.
Needless to say, our Boston trip was for the most part scrapped. But, thank God, Abigail's health returned and she is healthy today.
Disappointment. How do you respond to it? We are all experience disappointment in varying degrees. Recently, my spiritual director challenged me to see disappointment as God's invitation to deeper, more meaningful communion with Him. For, it is in disappointment that we see the truth of our independence our lack of humility juxtaposed against the goodness and mercy of our Father.
Disappointment--from two root words "miss" and "appointment" show us how we miss the mark living our lives as worship to God. Whether the "miss" "appointment" comes from the result of our hands, the hands of others or forces beyond the control of our hands, they are doors to step deeper into communion with Christ.
May you, today, experience the peace of Christ as you let his grace work wonders in your soul. Invite him into your "miss" "appointment."
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