WHEN THE FOG LIFTS

When I write of struggles, I trust you don't interpret such as complaint. My intent is to hopefully give others insight as to possibilities in the center of their frustrations. Not everything is a rose garden, but everything is a yes...II Cor. 1:18-20. Each of us lives in the BCZ (Being Challenged Zone). Our goal is to use these incidents to discover the living nature of Jesus that we keep moving forward.

Lately I have walked in a terrible fog. I have felt pressed by projects and stressed by people. Ever been there? Thought so. That's why I write this. Several wonderful things are on my plate. One of them being a newly envisioned celebrity golf tournament sponsored by Memorial Drive to benefit Tulsa Public Elementary Schools. I had envisioned raising $50,000 to $100,000. My four teammates working with me on this project envision $20,000 per school....or a total of $1,160,000. This is too huge for my little brain.

We set the tournament date and we were off.....but not for long. A debate arose among those responsible in the accounting area as to how we should proceed regarding a tax exemption. One way seemed much easier. I was needing that one to be our route. I didn't make persuasive calls or send notes to plead my case (Oh, please. Oh, please.) that we don't have the time to go through the more detailed exemption process. I left it alone and simply waited. Yesterday the decision came down and it didn't go the way I had hoped.

Immediately the fog lifted. It was as if He needed me to wait in a stupor, get the decision I didn't think I wanted, and then open my eyes to His direction.....once again. The vote I thought might sink our efforts didn't. It enhanced them. When the fog lifted, here's what I saw:

1. We will most likely be forced to move the date of the tournament back. This will give us much necessary and productive additional time to form a less rushed approach toward the contributors.
2. We cannot quit. If this effort is this difficult it surely is a signal we are onto something valuable to kingdom efforts.
3. We will be forming our efforts in the wisest accountability fashion.
4. We see everyone involved from Memorial, once again, pulling together to do a top-notch work.
5. God still leads.

This wasn't what I wanted...initially. The distraction and the delay only created uneasiness for me. But here's my main point: when I changed my thinking about such details the fog lifted. Isn't that true of every stressful, nagging circumstance? As a man thinketh in his heart.....the fog lifts!

(Note I've written two blogs for today. See Wild Faith written later in the day Wednesday.)