thoughts on the SALT retreat

March 2, 2003

lately my postings seem to be about analogies that have jumped out at me from the ordinariness of life, and less about what's actually happening in my life.

i never mentioned the retreat that i went on with SALT, the one that uncle pui-wing asked me to lead a discussion group at. it was a good time just hanging out with everyone for a couple of days. each of us discussion group leaders were in charge of our own group of about 5-6 people, and there were three sessions. i was completely worried and unsure of what i was doing, so i'd be praying, trying my best to prepare as best i could before the actual time. and during the times, it was interesting to listen to the discussions that arose from the topics we were looking at. i was always worrying about how we'd run out of things to say, or like we'd finish early and have all this time on our hands. but i was wrong all the time. in most cases, we went later than expected! but despite that, during the discussions, i'd be thinking to myself how i wasn't really doing a good job. and at the end of all the group times, i wondered how they thought it went.

we had an encouragement time sunday night because we were snowed in and the roads were not safe to drive on. and so basically what happened was, we went in a circle and said stuff about each person (7 to be exact). when it got to me, two of my group members said it went well, and they said i did a good job. i think i needed that. and God knew it, so He used those two people to encourage me. of course, it wasn't me at all doing anything "good", but God working through me. all He really looks for is available people. don't have the skills? that's okay. i believe God has the power to equip and enable any person to do anything if that's His perogative. but it starts with people being available.

as i said earlier, we were snowed in the sunday night. a lot of people had work to go to the next day, school to attend, even mid-terms to write. most of us wanted to get back home sunday night, including myself. but here's what i thought. there had to be a reason why we were snowed in there. God knows what's best for us! it turns out, that one of the auntie's co-workers was actually in the same area as us and tried heading back to toronto sunday night. he was flagged down on the highway by a police officer and told to go to a hotel for the night because the highway was so terrible. it basically took him 2.5 hours to get to the nearest exit! isn't that nuts? when things don't make sense, look up. God's in control of everything and if we're relying on our own perspective, things won't make sense. God paints on a canvas that's bigger than the universe, and if we don't look to Him, it won't make sense. even if we do look to Him, things still might not make sense, but the thing is, our hope and trust is in the Creator of the universe, not ourselves! and that changes everything :)

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (isaiah 40:31 [NIV])

Posted by Leo Chan at March 2, 2003 4:51 PM