Disclaimer: This is the second blog I’ve written about my family’s time at New Life Children’s Home in Villa Nueva, Guatemala during Spring Break 2017…and it probably won’t be the last.

The New Life Children’s Home (NLCH) is filled with 56 orphaned, abandoned and abused children. Every one of them has a name, every name has a story and every story matters to God. I couldn’t help but be intrigued by their stories and wanted to know every one of their narratives. What was their life like before arriving at NLCH? Were they neglected? Or victims of trauma? Were they targets of human trafficking? What tragedies and misfortunes had these young, blameless children braved in their short time on this earth?

And I learned many of their histories. Like the story of 10-year-old Alexys. Several years before arriving at NLCH, Alexys’ jaw was broken when he was hit by a car. It didn’t heal correctly, leaving him where he could barely open his mouth. On Tuesday of the week we were there, Alexys underwent a very delicate, corrective surgery that allowed him full use of his mouth. He was a tad swollen and had some pain, but the boy who could barely open his mouth on Monday when we first met him, had surgery on Tuesday and ate a hot dog on Wednesday evening!

I could go on and on about the reports of the children living at NLCH. But there was something I discovered. The children are a bit tentative when it comes to sharing their stories and a bit hesitant to have their past retold. It’s not that they are necessarily ashamed of their stories. Rather it’s that they prefer to focus on who they are not on who they were. It’s about where they are headed and not where they’ve been. They are finding healing from their past and choose to focus on the hope they see in their future.

What a tremendous lesson for us all. Our past is past. While it is important, we are not our past. While our past influences us, it does not define us. What matters today is not our past. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done, who we did it with, or how long we did it. What matters is what direction we are headed today.  If we want to grow, we must stop focusing on our past and focus instead on our future. We must stop focusing on what happened and instead on what we want to happen.

Yes, everyone has a name, every name has a story and every story matters to God. And God is not finished with your story.

…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal… Philippians 3:13-14

No alarm clock is necessary. One is awakened by the clamor of enthusiastic schoolchildren gathering outside the window. The vivacious commotion commences about the same time the first rays of sunshine begin to peer through that same window. It’s early. But not much thought is given to that. The world seems to move at a different pace here. Oh, there’s many tasks to be accomplished and lots of work to be done during the day. Then again it seems things are more laid-back in this place. Activities scheduled at a specified time may or may not happen at that time. But don’t worry, everything that needs to be completed will get done. Rest is built into the rhythm of the day and one certainly doesn’t go hungry with the methodic positioning of meal times. There’s oodles of room for play. In fact, play is a priority and it’s almost as if it’s intentionally programmed into the day. And then the day seems to end as the last flickers of the sun’s rays peer through that same window. It’s almost as if no clock is necessary here at all.

They call in mañana land. And I like it!

My family had the privilege of spending this past week in mañana land. It’s otherwise known as New Life Children’s Home in Villa Nueva, Guatemala (nlai.org). For over thirty years now orphaned, abandoned and abused children have found a refuge and safe haven at New Life Children’s Home. It is truly a home where the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children are addressed. And it is there in manana land where I had an awakening to my own physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

They call it mañana land. And it means “later.”

Yes, mañana is used in the Spanish language to mean “morning” or “tomorrow”. But often it refers to “later” indicating not a specific time but some moment in the blurred future. It’s not about procrastinating and putting off something indefinitely but it’s all about living at a different pace. In manana land we got up with the sun each morning. We worked every day. An apartment got painted, trees were trimmed, the kid’s height and weight got recorded, medical files were updated, errands were run and plenty of other tasks were accomplished. Work was politely interrupted by rhythms of eating and resting. And we played. Each afternoon, after the homework has been put away and the work and chores are suspended, everyone gathers outside (it’s also the land of eternal spring) and plays. It is a time for simple games of tag, competitive soccer contests and robust wrestling matches. It’s a time that’s good for the soul. It’s a land that’s good for the soul.

They call it mañana land. And I brought a peace (spelling intended) of it home.

 

 

So, we lost an hour of sleep this weekend. They call it Daylight Savings Time – advancing clocks one hour forward so that daylight lasts an hour longer during the summer months. Some call it summer time. While others are just looking for their lost hour of sleep.

It’s change nonetheless. And change can be difficult. One of my favorite quotes about change is from Robin Sharma: “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.”

Think about the time change. At first, it’s just hard. Let’s be honest – losing an hour of sleep is tough. I’m noticing the older I get the more difficult it gets.

And then it gets messy. It’s different. It’s not normal. It interrupts our schedule and our routine. It’s inconvenient. It’s just plain messy.

But in the end, it’s gorgeous. Who doesn’t love the warm summer nights where it doesn’t get dark till late allowing for a full slate of summertime activities?

And any change is the same way. It’s hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.

Where are you experiencing change in your life right now (besides the time change)? At home? At work? In your relationships? In your church? It might be hard. Or maybe it’s messy. But it can eventually be gorgeous!

Game Changer (noun): a newly introduced element or factor that

changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way.

You’ve seen it many times in your favorite sporting event. Everything is moving in one direction and one team has all the momentum. But then one play or a strategic move turns everything in a completely different direction and gives the other team all the momentum. And you’ve probably seen it in many other places – a relationship, a circumstance you are involved in, or a precarious situation you are occupied with.

Prayer is a game changer. It’s the element introduced into an existing situation, event or activity that changes it in a significant way. Richard Foster wrote, “To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us…to pray is to change.”

As you study the life of Jesus, you’ll notice that before Jesus ever did anything significant, He prayed. Prayer was the “game changing moment” in every encounter. Everywhere you turn, He was praying for the Father’s agenda (“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done”). He prayed before choosing the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12-13). He prayed before he fed over 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and some fish (John 6:11). He prayed before he raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41-42). His prayers continued up to His death on the cross.  In Luke 23:34, you see that even as the spikes were being driven into His hand He was praying for them. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

The disciples saw what a game changer prayer was for Jesus. And on one occasion they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In that exchange, Jesus gave them (and us) what is called “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4).

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

It was a real game changer for the disciples. And it can be for you too! I challenge you to prayer the Lord’s Prayer every day. I’m praying it at noon every day. Aldersgate Church is praying it at noon every day. And churches around the nation are praying it at noon every day. Will you join us? It’s a real game changer!

 

It’s called Lent. And it’s about a whole lot more than ashes, fish and giving something up.

I grew up in a faith tradition that didn’t observe Lent. All I knew about Ash Wednesday was that on one day of the year I would see some of my friends with a dirty smudge on their forehead. And all I knew about Lent was that for a few Fridays in the spring semester the school cafeteria menu changed from the routine and predictable hamburger to fish Friday.

Maybe your faith tradition looks like mine did and you are not sure what this is all about? Perhaps this is all new to you but you are a bit curious? Or perhaps your annual version of Lent has become routine, dull and dry?

If so, here’s the intention of Lent:

Where do you find yourself running in circles, but not really living life with direction, purpose or passion? Where are you caught up in the drama of school, work, family, and relationships? Where is your life filled with distractions that take you away from living a life with Christ? Where are you trying to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, caffeine, alcohol, and too many activities or other irrelevant stuff? Where are you running away from life and from God?

Lent is a 40-day period of self-examination and reflection. A time for us to look inward at those things that are keeping us from living in complete relationship with Jesus Christ. So, on this Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, ask yourself two questions:

1. Where will I say no? 

What is distracting me from God? Is it TV, books, my calendar, social media, my phone? What do I need to let go of, withhold or say “no” to in order to focus on God? What are the activities, attitudes, or obligations that clutter my life? Do I have the courage and the faith to go without that thing for the next 40 days?

2. Where will I say yes?

What can I take on for Christ these next 40 days? Where have I struggled to be a “doer” of the Word and not just a “hearer”? Maybe it’s time I serve at church? Maybe it’s blessing a stranger with a random act of kindness in the name of Jesus every day of Lent? Or maybe it’s being present, purposeful and engaged at home with my spouse and children?

It’s called Lent. And it’s about a whole lot more than ashes, fish and giving something up.