Africa, Walden, an Orange Jumpsuit, and Max Lucado

What do these three things have in common? My husband.
Today he donned a bright orange jumpsuit to head out to his new job at a refinery. He was hilariously frustrated - animatedly talking about how you can't sneak around cause you're, in his words, "all orange".
Amid the comedy routine he said sincerely, "I'm better than this." I knew just what he meant. Not that he's too good to wear the orange jumper, or too good to work menial labor, but that he was created for better things. He had talents and gifts and yet for some reason he had no idea what to do with them.
Then today I was reading from "Cure for the Common Life" by Max Lucado. I don't usually like these "churchy" books - but I read an unschoolish quote that drew me in. This book is talking about exactly the point of struggle my husband is having. If God imprinted in each of us a destiny for greatness - a specific design - how do we tap into it? I am only on chapter 3 - so I'll let you know how that comes out.
Last night I was listening to Walden on Librivox and heard this quote that sums this up:

The finest qualities of our nature like the bloom on fruits can be preserved only by the most delicate handling; yet we do not treat ourselves or one another thus tenderly.

Somewhere along the way, life has beaten the spark for excellence out of this talented, creative, funny, intelligent man. Instead of pushing him deeper into the orange jumpsuit, I am going to be praying more that God would help him find a way to harness who he was made to be.
Oh yeah, and Africa. He got a call tonight about a possible job there. It might last 4-6 months. He is seriously considering it. I hope he won't have to wear the orange jumpsuit. Orange is definitely not his color!

Missions

My friend Kate posted this morning about her daughter's family leaving for Chad on a long-term mission assignment very soon from where they are currently in France. I don't even know how a mother does that unless her heart is submitted to the Lord. She ended her post very poignantly with this from I Corinthians 7:29-31 (from my "candy" Bible as Kate's husband James calls it - a/k/a The Message):

I do not want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is not time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple - in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things - your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.

On that note, an opportunity has come up for the kids and me to take a mission trip with the geography class from the co-op that we are attending. The group is going to Arizona to work on a Hopi Indian Reservation with an organization called YWAM (Youth With a Mission) which just so happens is where Kirsten & Steve - the couple I mentioned above that are going to Chad started out. Kendra had planned with all her heart to take a foreign missions trip this summer that didn't work out for quite a number of reasons. I want so badly for us to be able to go on this trip because

1. we love missions trips and being with people serving and loving them for Jesus
   
2. it is an excellent opportunity to bond with some of the families at this new co-op
   
3. lately I have felt like we are floundering a bit while we learn how to live outside of a specific congregation and I know how missions trips can be a faith lift (I know a missions trip is not for us or about us - but it is definitely a benefit!)

So, if you are interested in supporting us on this trip, I have set up a donate button in the sidebar on the right where you can donate money to support us as we plan this trip. We are leaving on November 2nd and have to quickly get our support together. Most importantly please pray for us. I am trying not to do the math - and just keeping my focus on the Lord.
Thanks so much. Blessings to you ~ Julie