Spring Has Sprung (In Yarraville)

I know I've described Yarraville before, and how I love it so. Today was another of those beautiful afternoons. Here's how it went.

In the first place, the blossoms are out. I don't know what kinds. Emily could tell me all their seasonal habits and scents and climes, no doubt, and Erica could tell me their horticultural classifications in Latin, but all I know is that they come in variations of pink and white and that they make the world a better place. Many years ago some bright, aesthetically inclined town planner decided to line Yarraville's streets with these trees that blossom in the Spring, and we are grateful to him, even if the blossoms are only out for a short time and do deck our cars with confetti.

In the second place, PT's sermon today was a challenge to model Christ to others, and when I got home I decided that I needed to go for a walk and let the truth of what was preached sink in. As is so often the case, my walk led me down to the Yarraville village, whereupon I ensconced myself at a bench in The Corner Shop and ate a good lunch and drank a good coffee and wrote a little bit in my journal. (I couldn't find any of my regular journals so I hunted out an old one with blank pages from 2006, which was when I was overseas, and entertained my current self with my old self for a while. I really was a much better writer when I was in Europe. But I digress).

In the third place, Cousin Em rang (she of the green thumb) as I was walking and we talked a good while. 'Twas lovely. (I'm so excited to spend time with you in wintry London and Paris, Em! Hurrah!)

To return to this morning's sermon for a minute - I think what really impacted me was the fact that when Jesus calls us to be disciples, he expects us to disciple others, too; but not in our own strength. He gives us what we need to do it. He doesn't say, go and be fishers of men - he says, come, and I will make you fishers of men (Mark 1:15). He doesn't expect us to partake in ministry in our own strength - he equips us with the skills and strengths that we require for the task (Ephesians 4:11-12). It seems simple - the kind of stuff you learn in Sunday School. But I realised that lately I've been worrying about whether I'm really equipped to be useful for the tasks that I've been given - for instance, how can I possibly be a mentor and an advisor and a teacher to these 'third culture' kids in Bishkek, when I've got so many hang-ups of my own? But the beautiful and simple truth is that the Spirit helps me in my weakness (Romans 8:26), and causes fruit to grow where there was none before. God has called me and He will give me what I need - emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally - to do His work in that place. It's as simple as that. There's nothing I can do to halt or hinder His will in this matter, and that is a cause for great joy.

So, in fact, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to skip about in a most undignified fashion, with a heart full of gratitude and love for the faithful One who embraces me and calls me back to Himself time and again. There's no god like my God.