Because God doesn’t go on vacation

I can hardly contain my excitement. You know when you have one of those stories, the kind that don’t just happen every day? The kind you hear others talk about and you want to be apart of something like that? I think I had one of those. Now I step back and am in awe. I’m in awe of how God can use us. I am in awe of how He has plans. All He needs are people who are willing to be used.

I went on a cruise this last week. While I was packing and preparing myself for this trip, I started to think about what was ahead of me. It’s vacation. You’re excited about the opportunities ahead of you and the memories you will make. I kept thinking about how I wanted to glorify God on this trip, even though I didn’t always know what that mean.

I hopped on my first flight down to Atlanta and sat next to a man very friendly man. He talked to me about his work and how we was traveling to a medical conference that he was speaking at. Then he caught a glimpse of a book I was reading- ‘When God Interrupts.’ He pointed at the book and asked- “What does that mean to you?” I don’t even remember what I said but he listened intently. I couldn’t quite read his expression. I thought what I had said made sense, but then again, I wasn’t sure if he understood or was just trying to process it. He asked me about my job, and one thing I have learned is you can’t hide your faith when you are making small talk about your job if you work in a church. (I can’t tell you how many times I had openings like this during my trip.) This man ended up telling me about his life’s story. About his distance from God and how in the last few years he had brought himself back to the church and how he has been growing since. I felt like I had a new close friend by the time we landed. I was encouraged by this man, and I think I encouraged him too. But for some reason I felt like things weren’t going to end there. Well, maybe the story with this man would end at that terminal, but after…. well that’s up to God.

I have heard plenty of pastors, speakers and writers talk about their encounters with people on planes and on vacations. Someone simply asks the person what they do, and a conversation around faith is born. I always wanted to have one of those encounters, and so I eagerly awaited the opportunities. It was a wonderful feeling to have a conversation like this, but I had a feeling this man on the plane was supposed to be my encouragement for my trip, so I held tight to that conversation.

On the evening of my first cruise I was worn out and kind of discouraged with some things. I went on to the top of the ship. The wind was blowing so hard it sometimes pushed me so hard that I couldn’t stop walking but the nice thing was I was all alone. On a ship filled with 3,000 people, there was not another soul on the top deck. But God was certainly up there. I remember singing at the top of my lungs to the endless sea knowing God heard me clearly. He knew my heart.

By the 3rd day into the trip, I had met some fascinating people who worked on the ship. I am still amazed at the lives they live. Working off a ship for 6-9 months at a time then going to their home country- Philippines, Ukraine, Indonesia, etc. They would see their family for 3 months and then return to the ship again to work 7 days a week, all day shifts. Amazingly enough, they liked their jobs. The stories they told me about their families, their homes, their pasts, they made my heart ache. As I tried to fall asleep I kept seeing the faces of these people in my mind. I wanted them to know the joy I know, the peace I have experienced, the love I love. But how can they? I felt like I was on a ship that was void of God’s light. But I know it’s there. So I prayed for a light. I prayed for these individuals, that they would experience that light, and they could pass that light to the people on the ship and their families.

I just didn’t know where that light would come from.

By day 3 I was still struggling with finding food that I could eat. I was told that cruises were one of the best places for people with restricted diets, but I had yet to find the people who could really help me find food I could eat. So far, I had had a terrible lunch where they messed up 2 of my entrees and my waiter didn’t seem to care. This was terribly frustrating until I ran into Amit. He was the sous chef and happy to make me anything I could eat. I remember him grabbing 2 mugs and filling them with hot water and tea. He instructed me to sit and we went through everything I could and couldn’t eat. But it went beyond that. He asked me about my life. I asked him about his life in India. A friendship had blossomed. I saw Amit every day. All I had to do was call his phone and he would be there in minutes ready to make me anything I wanted. What a huge blessing. We sat down for another cup of tea and he asked me about my job. He wanted to know more about it. Then he asked one question that changed everything. He asked…

‘So you love God?…”

I couldn’t help but smile. I thought of Moses and how when he came down the mountain from meeting with God his face shown the glory of God. I’ve always wanted to experience that, and I think I did. That smile- the smile I only get when I think about the amazing love relationship I have with God appeared on my face, and suddenly that conversation went for days. Amit wanted to know what I believed. He wanted to ask questions about the things he didn’t understand. He wanted me to explain what I knew, and he wanted to read the Bible to see what I had found.

I remember him sitting across from me and me trying to put to words this unexplainable love I have for God. But words didn’t seem like enough. Finally said, I can’t explain it.

And he said, “You’re face tells it all.”

I am amazed at the relationship that was built. Every night my thoughts turned to Amit and all of the friends he introduced me to. Could I be a light? I prayed for a light, but I didn’t feel worthy to be that light. I was on vacation. For some reason I thought that God wouldn’t use me, but God does not go on vacation. He is looking for people who were willing. Oh and I was willing. I was passionate, and I was noticing that every conversation that was going on was far too amazing to have happened by human power alone. God was there. God was on that ship and He was moving.

Amit and I parted ways on Sunday morning. It was a quick good bye because he was very busy. I headed to a room where I waited for my departure number to be called to leave the ship. Apparently he came to find me, but we didn’t see each other again. I was in the everglades when I received a phone call. It was Amit. He had asked for my email and phone number earlier in the week so he could send me recipes of what he made for me on the ship, and in case he had more questions for me. He and another chef called me twice to make sure I was safe and at the airport. Then Amit told me that the conversations we had about God were constantly on his mind. He wanted to email me more. He wanted to know more about the God I talk about. I sat at the airport reflecting on the week. I could happily say I had a wonderful time on my first cruise. I saw some beautiful sights, enjoyed some great entertainment, and food. But I found friends. Friends I wasn’t expecting, but friends God brought in my path. Sometimes I am just left amazed at what God does. It’s so beyond me, but I just want to be a small part of His big plans.

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