I didn't write yesterday, because Friday was almost exactly like Thursday, except James got revenged.
Saturday was painful
It was supposed to be our day of relaxing and getting ready to fly out.
Instead we changed 2 flat tires, had to climb up 50 billion stairs just to climb back down again.
Okay, Let me start from the beginning.
No Starbucks this morning, instead we are going to "see" the pyramids. I put the word "see" in parenthesis, because, what i thought the word "see" meant, and what we actually did, are 2 different things.
Of course no good mission trip isn't complete without a flat tire story, or two.
On the way to the Pyramids, we had a blow out. Not just any blow out, but the whole tire came off of the rim. Yes, the tire was still mostly in tact, but separated from the rim. Changing a tire isn't too bad, but on the side of a Mexico City highway, with narrow shoulders at a 45 degree angle, from the gap from the road to the grass, it was a bit more intense.
Off to "see" the pyramids.
I thought the word "see" involved your eyes, but apparently, it has an alternative meaning. Which involves your whole body.
I thought we were only going to have a distant relationship with these mammoth structures, but we got to know them very intimately.
I did not know these details, which would have helped me in my decision to go on this adventure.
So there I stand, Looking up from the bottom of this Humongoid ready to "see" the pyramid. James and i thought it would be funny to take pictures on the way up. They are just joke pictures of me pretending to get tired on the way up. I made it to the top no problems, In fact I could have climbed Mount Everest afterwards with out breaking a sweat. As you will see from the pictures when I post them, I am a good actor.
So I am sitting there, one level from the top, not because I am tired or anything, but i just wanted to take in the scenery from the level below the top, In fact I enjoyed the scenery for a while from a level before that as well.
I thought to myself, You know, this view is pretty good, I mean I am not tired or anything, but you seen the view from almost the top, you have seen the view from the top right. Oh, well might as well go check it out see what all the fuss is...
Those of you who know me, now it was nothing like that. I crawled my way to that height, and I wanted to quit. I wanted to go back down, because i was hurting, tired, and thirsty. Apparently, water is a good idea when you are going to "see" the Pyramids. This is one of those cheesy life metaphors, that I think you can already see the end. As I sat there one level from the top, I thought about the view, and and about how few people i know that have ever climbed a Pyramid. And as i was crawling up that last set of steps, and that blue haired woman was passing me on the right, I hurt. I wanted to roll back down where I came from. But I pressed on. Yep I actually finished. I don't do that very often, finish.
Finally made it down It took me a little longer than the rest, I sat and talked to God at the top. it was one of those places that inspire you. The ancient structure, still amazes and inspires. I thought back on the week, and the fear I had, and the selfishness of thinking about my life, and not trusting Him to be my portion, My redeemer. And I gave that to Him. Or at least I told Him I was giving it to him. and limped my way down.
Jonathan managed to strike up a conversation with one of the vendors, who was a Muslim selling trinkets of the Aztec Sun God. I don't think "Allah" would like that. The most common phrase heard that day, other than me whining about having to climb that pyramid, was "hey friend, I have a gift for you, almost free today.
almost free?
strange.
So the way back, was a test of that commitment that i made. Flat Tire number 2, with our plane leaving in a very short period of time. Plus it was a 16 1/2 inch rim. and we didn't know anyone where we are. The obvious solution isn't always the right one. As I sit there, on the side of the highway again. Looking at the buses picking people up down the road, but Jonathan had gone in to the community we had stopped by. Sitting behind the bus, talking to God, explaining to him why we needed to go try to get on one of those buses. "Because, God helps those who help themselves, and there is no way we are going to find a 16 1/2 inch tire in his place" To see a small boy about 10 to 12 come into view, pushing a 16 1/2 inch tire on the rim Jonathan brought from the first tire that blew, was god saying.. Shut up, I don't need you, I do things the way i feel, You can't contain Me, You cant explain me, You cannot figure me out. You need me, I don't need you. And I thought it was beautiful.
God taught me a lot in Mexico City. HE is my Liberator, He is not safe, but He Is good, His love extends far beyond the borders of our country.
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