Balance

Our staff went on a retreat last weekend and it was a great time of playing together, worshiping together, eating together, and being encouraged together.  We had an excellent speaker who has worked for many years in Latin America with World Vision and understands very much what community development and working with "the poor" looks like.  I appreciated very much that instead of speaking in lofty terms and about things that weren't super relate able, he talked to us about this idea of balance in life basing it on the book of Ecclesiastes.  This is not a book of the Bible that I have spent much time studying, besides the famous "A time for..." chapter.  Our speaker talked about the cynical words that the author of Ecclesiastes shares about the reality of life- it's "meaningless" and all that matters is to enjoy your toil and food and drink, etc.  But without this being an excuse to check out of this life and just do whatever you want, he was challenging us more to invest and work hard and love well the people of our communities and in our lives, but also not become hardened and cynical and miss out on the opportunities to enjoy the simple things in life. 

I was thinking about this idea of balance and the things that I see that make me want to harden my heart some and on the other end, the things that provide me encouragement and remind me that there is goodness in the world.  And that goodness can only come from Christ.  Seeing a line of cars stopped and waiting while an older gentleman with a cane and his younger family member cross the road together.  The woman who gives up her seat on the bus to a young mother and baby when the bus is full.  The fifth grade girl who quotes our lesson about "loving her neighbor" when I asked the group what their plans were for the rest of the day.  My supervisor and his wife inviting me to have dinner with their family when they have very busy lives between their own work and family lives here.  Receiving a gift of papaya from my watchy man Oscar when I know he doesn't have any too much money to buy things for others.  A Tico co-worker and his wife pulling me aside during the retreat to encourage me and affirm that they know it must be hard to live so far away from family and friends and that the Lord surely is and will continue to bless me for it. 

These are the moments that I want to hold on to when seeking the balance between the work and the difficulties and the simple joys and encouragements in life.  I'd like to challenge you to think of what you need to do to find that balance in your lives as well.  Thankfully, we are not left to do it on our own, but have the Holy Spirit living in us to guide and direct us.  But we need to listen to Him, and obey.  I'm speaking to the choir here.  :)

Here are some pics of what's being going on during this fall (and slower without North American students!) season here at SI Costa Rica:

Making cupcakes for a "Frozen" themed party for a ten year old friend

Beginning readers at the Centro

Of course we continue to bake delicious things at girls' club!

3rd graders making a map of the world all on their own.  Maybe not exactly proportional but a great job still.

15 de setiembre parade with my little blondie Tica friend