Broken Glass...

So, when I titled this post "Broken Glass", I meant it as literal. However, it works both literally and figuratively. Let me explain...

On Thursday night this week, Rob was coming home from hanging out with some friends, when he noticed that something was weird about our car. It had been parked outside the apartment for a few days without us using it. This is pretty normal for us because we have an awesome public transit system in the city. However, when I last used the car, I forgot to bring the faceplate (the front of our stereo system which has all the buttons on it and detaches) inside with me. Big mistake in the city. This is why when Rob arrived home that night, he came home to find the front passenger side window in too many pieces to count and the entire stereo system no where to be found.

I was really upset by this experience. I had never been so violated by the people who live around me. Also, I felt guilty for leaving the faceplate in the car. I was not sure what to feel. At first I cried. Then I was angry, but I could not figure out who exactly to be angry with...myself for leaving the faceplate in the car, the thieves although I will never know their identities, or God. I mean honestly, isn't he supposed to protect us while doing his work in this city? This is where I had to stop and think through all these jumbled emotions. This is hard to do. It is hard to learn from something so awful. However, when I let my anger cool and took some time to let God speak to me, this is what he showed me...

1. Through an enlightening conversation with a fellow Christian in the city, Suzanne, I learned that the people that would do this kind of thing are the reasons we are here. They are lost, hurting, helpless without Jesus. How could I have been mad at them? Suzanne reminded me that I should actually pray for them. Man, that was intense. I was in the middle of crying while vacuuming up broken glass, and God used her to show me the beginnings of his will in this...he began to "break" a Glass of his own. When I was so angry and hurt, he used the situation to remind me of his love in my life and my purpose to make it known in others lives. Wow.

2. Life in a city where people have not made Christ to center of their lives can be challenging. One of these struggles revolves around things. Material things. When I saw that broken window and stereo gone, I immediately asked Rob "How does God expect us to drive students and all the other things we do if we can't keep the car together?" However, I realized that this attitude was entirely selfish and once again, God broke some Glass of his own. He showed me that he loves us and that this was not of his hands, but that he did have something to teach me. We don't need a stereo to drive students. We do need a window, but God provided that at a minimal cost from a local junkyard. Once again, when I was mad at him, God provided. And he pursues us. He gets the bigger picture. He sees an opportunity to break and teach a Glass while all I could see was broken glass.

3. In light of my recent acceptance to the India program, I have no idea how I even cried over this situation. I have Jesus, what more do I need? There are people suffering all of this world. Most likely, the thieves are among those. Who was I to feel jaded. I have the greatest gift of all. Once again God showed me a portion of the grand design of his plan.

4. The last biggest thing I have drawn from this experience is that just when life seems to be going ok, God "prunes" us. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. The Father is the Gardner who tends to pruning the brances so they bring forth good fruit. When we were reading over this tonight at church in John 16, it hit me. Pruning is never fun. It is often painful and hard. Thomas and I were discussing this on the way to church, and then to read and study it was amazing. I am so blessed and encouraged that the Father is still pruning me, even through things like this, and drawing me closer to him. What an amazing relationship.

All this to say, yeah our car got broken into and it sort of stinks, BUT I have learned so much through it. God is alive in this city. He is present and working. Pray for me as I pray for the thieves and we continue to fulfill his purpose for our lives here.

Love to you all.

Heather