By Kirk, CBF field personnel
I’ve been embarrassed about a lot of things in my life—you probably have too. But as I write this, I’m on a flight to try to reverse an embarrassment of nearly 40 years.
What horrible, decades-spanning, shameful embarrassment am I trying to finally put behind me?
Simply put, I’ve never been to the Philippines. Many people I know have been there, including pastors, missionaries, translators, professors, development workers. And I know lots of people from there: pastors, missionaries, translators, professors, development workers…And it’s only a 3-hour flight from the country that I’ve served in for over 30 years.
This long-lasting embarrassment is not due to a lack of trying. I’ve planned to go on multiple occasions—to speak at conferences, participate in meetings, most of all to learn. But somehow, something always came up.
Paul had a similar experience. There were places he tried to go, but time after time the Spirit would not allow it. Then he dreamed of a man from Macedonia, and the doors opened.
My week in the Philippines is probably not going to be as world-changing as Paul’s time in Macedonia. But I pray that God will somehow use me to encourage the saints and have meaningful conversations with the curious. Because our lives are not merely about avoiding embarrassment but about testifying to the marvels of the One who was despised and rejected for us.