Update: Coming Attractions/Requests

This has been a week full of phone calls made, letters drafted, and struggle after struggle. I had no idea how much the process of finding partners would reveal things about my own heart.

There's a whole lot of growing going on. It feels a little like when I was very young and put on the same shoes for school every morning. Everyone had a favorite pair of shoes when they're in second grade, right? There was one morning, though, that I noticed that these sparkly sandals were really kind of tight on my toes. Instead of reaching for another pair, I squeezed by that day.

I kept squeezing by until finally, I couldn't get my feet into them. And then that was that. My life with the sparkly sandals was over--and my feet certainly felt better for it--even though I would have kept making all kinds of sacrifices to keep things the same.

It's hard to let go, especially a favorite pair of shoes, a favorite relationship, a favorite sin. It's so easy to keep squeezing into the same ways of looking at the world instead of jumping out for the great unknown and what marvelous things God has in store. Sometimes it takes a critical self-examination from me, a considerate word from a friend, or an insurmountable obstacle.

Please pray with me that I'll be open to change as God directs it. What can I pray for you?

In the days to come, I'll be posting more basic information--like, "Where in the world is Sweden?" and "Why in the world are you going to Sweden?"--and introducing the team of staff and STINTers who are going on this crazy adventure with me. En garde!