This Lenten season I have been reading from scripture. I have wanted to read specifically books that focused on our need for Jesus and the purpose of His passion, death, and resurrection. The books I am reading and reflecting on are Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Proverbs, Matthew, and John.
While
reflecting on my readings I am yet again struck with how God allows my life
events to match those of what I am reading in scripture. I think it is His way
of allowing me the wisdom of the moment to truly feel and relate to those in
the writings. With my long journey to Damongo, over the past four days, I feel
a deep connection yet again with Our Holy Mother. I have been wondering if
these feelings of nervousness, confusion, and fear are at all what she felt
while journeying to Bethlehem or even fleeing to Egypt. As I reflect through my
travels I have been making some comparisons.
I
started off my journey with a good dose of spiritual warfare when I was in
Columbus catching my flight to NYC. We had just boarded the plane when the
captain announced overhead that the cargo hold door was not latching and we
were to disembark the aircraft until maintenance could fix it. The flight at
this point had already been delayed by 30 minutes and we were to expect another
hour of delay. Once seated back at the gate I quickly turned to prayer asking
God to “kick the devil in the rear” for I knew that this was just spiritual
warfare trying to make me give into fear and doubt. I was ready to change my
flights, for I was going to miss my connection if we delayed a full hour, when
it was announced that the plane was fixed and we were to board and head out.
God +1, devil 0. The anxiety was still pumping because I had a very short
window to make it to my connection. Good thing I ran track in high school
because I was running to my next gate. Reflecting on this on the plane to Accra
I wondered if these were similar feelings that Mary had when she was told she
must flee to Egypt. Did she have doubts or fear the provision of the Lord? His
ability to keep her safe as well as the new infant she bundled in her loving
embrace? Did she quickly turn to prayer and feel the immediate peace of the
Lord wash over her?
The
next day we landed in Accra where it was bright and sunny. We were tired from
our nine-and-a-half-hour flight where sleep was a little difficult. We were
blessed with a quick trip through immigration and then met Father Peter who
would be taking us all the way back to Damongo. We spent the day driving and
exploring this new and foreign land while trying to also get all the little
things accomplished for our stay of three years in the country. We were
exhausted and overwhelmed. Everyone we met though showed us genuine kindness,
with large smiles and kind greetings.
The
next day we flew to Tamale hoping to make the drive to Damongo on the same day.
Sadly, with trying to get more things accomplished in Tamale, it was too late
to make the drive so we stayed in a nice little guesthouse in the city.
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