New Things

Bob Benson wrote a wonderful little book entitled "Come Share the Being". In it he tells the story of when he was a young child and had a younger brother born into the family. He related how he was jealous of the younger boy because he would get to experience "all them new things." What new things? Well, new things like riding a bike for the first time, or smelling a rose for the first time, or eating ice cream. You get the idea. There are lots of "new things" in life that we only do once. That doesn't mean that we can't enjoy the "old things", it just means that there is a special wonder of doing something for the first time.

There is another emotion that comes with doing something for the first time. PANIC! That's nearly what I'm experiencing now as I prepare to go to Korea for my first round of training trainers. I've had the training myself. Well, most of it. It's now my turn to go to Korea and train the first group of trainers who have the responsibility of training church planters. This will be done with my Korean partner who is also doing it for the first time. (What were the planners thinking when they paired two novice trainers?)

However, I have to remember some of the promises I've learned in scripture. "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." "Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you." "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

Maybe I can do this.