English Tea

Today I went to visit a friend I recently met at church. Sarah attends the school of ministry and has 4 boys and 1 girl, all adorable. I had a great time with her and her daughter while her boys went to the cinema. She made me English tea with milkman-delivered milk (!), and it was neat to be transported-in a way-to another culture for awhile. It was awesome to see once again how the Lord provided for them in getting them there to Morningstar all the way from Northern England-even after the guy who was about to buy half their company backed out of the agreement. This was initially intended to fund the trip, etc., but God always has other plans to teach and train and mold us. It's so cool, yet nervewracking!

The doorbell rings.

In comes another Sarah, 2 doors down, also from England and also in the school of ministry! She is here to borrow the vacuum to "hoover" her bedroom that Sarah O. has helped decorate. "Lovely." Sarah B. is the second one, to clarify. Sarah B. talks about dancing and learning to tango at a local restaurant/bar that has a dance floor.

Turns out, the tango is quite an interesting dance. It requires the woman to be in a position of submission, in a way. She (and he) must actually lean into the other partner, so that if he were not there, she would fall. Her hand actually grasps the bicep muscle to sense where the man will lead. It is a very intuitive dance. She said that if she tried to anticipate the man's moves or lead the dance, she would "tread" on him and it would not be very beautiful. But if she let him lead her and she trusted him to do it, she would be able to follow his lead and the dance would be very fluid and beautiful.

She also mentioned that the rhythm in the dance is sporadic with pauses here and accelerations there, so that at some points, they would be standing still during the dance and then suddenly move in another direction very quickly.

Isn't that the way it is with God sometimes? We want to direct things...We want to lead...We wonder why we are seemingly standing still...

It reminds me of the verse in Psalm 32:8-10, 11 (NKJV)

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

He guides us with his eye. We long to be close enough to see where His eyes are looking and then go in that direction. Isn't that so amazing...and challenging? I want to be that close and trust him.

The follow up verse:
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

When I finally left her house today, I thought, "Crumbs! I am starting to think with an English accent!"