Day 22 - Putting the Court Date in Perspective...
It amazing how short sighted we are sometimes. :) It is also interesting how our greatest strength can also be our greatest weakness. For example, the USA as a culture seems more organized and efficient than the culture of Ukraine (at least from our experience). Yet, sometimes our weakness seems to be that we don't spend time with people because they take time and we are so busy getting things done. :) While efficiency is important, people are even more important. "Balance", of course, is the key to the whole thing.
On top of all that... It usually becomes quite apparent that when we, Americans, visit a foreign country, we realize how blessed we are (or negatively how spoiled we are). Well, you may be wondering, why am I saying all this?
I talked with our lawyer, Ivan, today. He put our court date in a different context which helped gain some perspective. He talked with others about how long it is currently taking to get a court date. He said that others are having to wait up to 3 months to get a court date or they are having to unofficially encourage(bribe) the judge to move up the court date. All the sudden, two extra weeks doesn't sound all that bad. :)
To top it off, I was reading 2 Corinthians 4 this morning which was quite encouraging. (Yet, I'm certain I don't have a clue the kind of hardships that Paul endured.) What I find ironic is verses 16-18...
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:16-18)
Our time here is momentary in light of eternity. May we look to the things which are unseen and may God squeeze out of us a heart of thankfulness (as opposed to the ugliness of being spoiled rotten)!
I'm thankful that HE who began a good work in me will bring it to perfection when Christ returns (Phili. 1:6)!
On top of all that... It usually becomes quite apparent that when we, Americans, visit a foreign country, we realize how blessed we are (or negatively how spoiled we are). Well, you may be wondering, why am I saying all this?
I talked with our lawyer, Ivan, today. He put our court date in a different context which helped gain some perspective. He talked with others about how long it is currently taking to get a court date. He said that others are having to wait up to 3 months to get a court date or they are having to unofficially encourage(bribe) the judge to move up the court date. All the sudden, two extra weeks doesn't sound all that bad. :)
To top it off, I was reading 2 Corinthians 4 this morning which was quite encouraging. (Yet, I'm certain I don't have a clue the kind of hardships that Paul endured.) What I find ironic is verses 16-18...
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:16-18)
Our time here is momentary in light of eternity. May we look to the things which are unseen and may God squeeze out of us a heart of thankfulness (as opposed to the ugliness of being spoiled rotten)!
I'm thankful that HE who began a good work in me will bring it to perfection when Christ returns (Phili. 1:6)!
