we can do anything

The famous money words today "we can do anything". Just what I like to hear! I moved into my own little place a week ago. I have a bed to sleep on, but my living room looks awfully big empty. Today I placed an order for a couch and a chair. Now, this is not as easy as it sounds. Maybe it doesn't sound easy. I feel good about it now; we shall see what is delivered in a couple weeks! Furniture stores here are ridiculous expensive. Well over $1000 for a piece. I can get an entire 7-seat set for a fraction of the price. And I only want a couch and a chair.

I search the internet for something I like and with a fairly simple design to increase my chances of the end product being anything like the picture.

I start my friendly banter with the furniture makers - charming my introduction to get on their good side. (This is very important to the negotiation process giving me the best price) I look through books and books of fabric. Finally I narrow it down, and am told over and over my choice is out of stock. I rephrase my question to ask and see only those fabrics available. Ahh, patience. If you smile at it, it kind of works like a sly mischievous little kid. A smile works wonders here. I try to smile a lot. Besides it giving me things I want, it makes for one less grumpy mazungo on the streets. And I'm not even grumpy - most days. :-) Maybe next I will try their motto: I can do anything. I know it's not true, but maybe if I say it enough, others will be tempted with the idea to believe. And in theory, I do agree it is a great motto to uphold. Very positive. Very confident.

This morning I was reading on my little balcony. The passage was in John chapter 16 "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." We can do anything. It's easy to get caught up in the hassle and negotiations of the day. I often forget I am not alone in them and all I need to do is ask. Joy will be made complete. Something so simple. John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in ME you will have PEACE. In this WORLD you will have TROUBLE. But take HEART!! I have overcome the world."

I work in development. We work with and through communities to try and eliminate the amount of struggle, the amount of pain people experience on a daily basis. If human needs such as clean water, access to food, shelter, safety from persecution is met - our work is successful. Jesus tells us we will have trouble in this world. He tells us that he will bring peace. He tells us to take heart. To relax. To trust. This simple straightforward fact is so difficult when you are face to face with the injustice. Jesus also tells us to ASK. Ask for what we desire. What we hope for. What we want. And with faith. If we do, we will have JOY. (who doesn't want joy?) We will have PEACE. (is that not the ultimate end goal?) We can do anything. I believe "we" is the key word here. My perfect picture of my furniture order will come, but the result of what it looks like will not necessarily be the same as I have requested. It will be unique to the furniture maker. His interpretation of the pretty picture. I need to trust in God's pretty picture. I need to trust in his interpretation of my desires, my needs. When I look outside, at this beautiful day, in this beautiful place, it is so easy to trust. It is easy to believe. When I am faced with injustices, hungry children, adults begging and stealing, livelihoods destroyed, personal security and safety compromised by political disagreements, it is more difficult to trust in a greater pretty picture. A different interpretation than what I see. My instinct is to put on a smile and negotiate my way to what I believe the end result should look like. And I will continue to do this for as long as it takes to meet the needs of those we are working with. But I must also trust in the one who gives us peace; I must trust in the promise of simply asking in faith and receiving with joy.

I reread verse 33: "...you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." It's already done.

WE can do anything.