Psalm 91:9-11If you say, "The Lord is my refuge,"and you make the Most High your dwelling,no harm will overtake you,no disaster will come near your tent.For he will command his angels concerning youto guard you in all your ways; [NIV]
Thank you for your prayers, which have accomplished so much more than you can imagine. Did you notice the "if" in the passage above? Whenever a promise in the Bible begins with "if," I wonder if we have fulfilled the listed condition. Neil used to start his goodbye with, "If I don't return, be sure to ...." Neil's list for me was transferring his leadership position into my hands so I could care for things we owned if Neil died while overseas. I never wanted to consider that if. My prayers became more heartfelt for his safe return, and I began inviting my friends and family to pray with me. Thankfully, Neil no longer gives me his "if I don't return" list.
I tend to think things through carefully, so getting back to the "if" in Psalm 91, if we make the Most High our dwelling place. Jesus knew the Most High was his Father. When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents thought they had lost him but then found him in the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus asked them, "Why were you searching for me? ... Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" [Luke 2:49 - NIV].
When we put our trust in Jesus' sacrifice in full payment of our sins, the Most High becomes our dwelling place. But what happens if we mess up like Adam and Eve? What was the flood all about? Noah's family didn't do so well in the obedience camp, either. When the Israelites got impatient waiting for Moses to come down from meeting with God on the mountain making a golden calf to worship in place of God, God offered to destroy them and start over again with Moses. Moses didn't think that would be a good idea and refused the offer from God to make Moses' family into a mighty nation. Only Jesus was faithful in everything. So, what about our commitment to follow Jesus? Can our flesh be trusted to make the Most High our dwelling place for the rest of our lives?
No, we can't put our trust in our own flesh. However, we can entrust our lives into Jesus' care, who is faithful in everything, to see us through. We can make the Most High our dwelling place. But Jesus did that, and he had to endure the cross. So, in this life, we are not guaranteed to be free of pain and suffering. Therefore, when Neil heads to the plane and we say our goodbyes, when he has entrusted me with all our worldly goods, I have entrusted Neil to the God who cares for His children. But do I know if Neil will return safely home to me?
No. That brings us to yesterday. Neil planned to take the train to and from Mombasa, but the train was already full. They had another day of rest on Wednesday. Neil's sleep kept getting interrupted on Wednesday night until finally Shawn's bed fell to pieces under his weight. After that much excitement, Neil was pretty well awake for the rest of the night. So, on Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. Kenya time, Francis and Martin joined Neil and Shawn to head for the conference in Kahloleni in Cosmas' van.
At 12:54 a.m. Minnesota time, Neil texted that they were two hours east of Nairobi. An accident between semi-trucks caused a massive traffic backup with several semi's involved. They began ditch-cruising in the van, but the eastbound traffic was at a standstill as far as they could see. After a 30-minute delay, they made it back to the highway. 3 semi-trucks had crashed, two of them on their sides. Neil wrote that there are plenty of opportunities for chickens.
As Ruth read that message, she imagined one of the tipped-over semi-trucks must have been hauling chickens whose cages burst open on impact, and the chickens were running in every direction. But Neil's next text was, "This is where I get so good at it."
Good at what, Ruth thought, as she imagined Neil chasing after and grabbing the chickens by their legs. Then Ruth remembered that when Neil returns from Kenya, he weaves in and out of close traffic on the highway, having become used to the Kenyan driver's tolerances.
Next, Ruth remembered a text conversation with Neil's brother Steve on Wednesday evening regarding the culvert that drains the sweet corn being lowered in his driveway by wolves. Ruth had responded that it was amazing that the wolves could help with ditching. But that night, as she figured out Neil getting good at playing chicken wasn't with live chickens, Ruth realized Steve wasn't talking about the large furry critters, but his phone must have auto-corrected, exchanging "wolves" for the Wulf family name, who fixed the drainage problem by bringing their equipment over to lower the culvert. She laughed hard enough out loud to wake herself fully for about an hour afterwards.
So much for Neil and Ruth trying to sleep well on Wednesday night. Every time Ruth wakes up, she wonders where she is, which day it is, and is comforted with the reassurance that Neil is already downstairs checking messages on his computer with perhaps coffee made on the stove. But Neil isn't downstairs. Neil is still in Kenya. Here is where their comfort lies. They are dwelling in the house of the Most High who will take care of them until they are safely home in heaven.
What day is today? It is Thursday. Neil and his friends are given one more day of rest as they settle in at Kahloleni. Friday and Saturday they will teach at the pastor's conference in Eastern Kenya. Sunday they will be back on the road to Nairobi -- entrusted into the Father's care.