T minus 18 days and counting
What does that mean anyways? I am going to go look it up – BRB. Ok, here it is:
“T minus _____” comes from a countdown convention used by both the American military and NASA. Generally, it is used when counting down to a major event that will happen at a specific time. Mathematically, T is time, minus whatever amount of time is left until the event happens.
OK, so I used it right…18 days until a major event in our life happens – all 6 of Team Phillips boards a plane in Houston, TX and 20+ hours later lands in Entebbe, Uganda. When people hear “We are moving our entire family to Africa”, do you know what the most common question asked of us is? “Are you excited?”
Well, yes, we are excited, but right now, more than that we are overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the loss of how relationships will look moving forward, overwhelmed by our home being slowly dismantled, overwhelmed by the massive amount of things still to get done, overwhelmed by the fact our kids will miss their friends terribly, and overwhelmed there are no drive thru’s in Uganda. At the same time we are overwhelmed by God’s ability to sustain us, overwhelmed by the amount of people who want to be a part of this journey in some way, overwhelmed Leah & I have been on the same page of the journey each step of the way and overwhelmed by how God has been weaving this story for such a long time.
So yes, we are excited at all God will do, but in reality, living out these last days here in Austin are difficult. There are so many lasts. Like this Sunday for instance. I will be teaching for the last time at The Well. God has done so much in me as I have stood before amazing people every week, hoping to say what God would want them to hear. God has used The Well to grow Leah and I in ways that are very profound. Are we excited to look at those people on Sunday & say see you later? Heck no. But, we are excited to see what the future holds for them. When you are part of the body of Christ, we are knit together for-ev-er.
So, the clock ticks. The # of days are getting less and the reality of launching into a new season of life is becoming more real by the minute. We want to look at the future with excitement, yet we also don’t want to miss out on what He is doing right here and right now. We don’t want to be overwhelmed with lists of things to do and we so much want to be overwhelmed with all that God is doing in and around us. As things in the house are selling (anyone want to buy a pool table? ), as we are trying to rent our home (better yet sell it), closing up responsibilities at The Well, getting shots, wiring money to Africa and a whole host of other things we want to not miss out on the now, all the while knowing that day 19 is coming.
What is is for you? T minus_______. Fill in the blank. I encourage you to pray and work towards that lift off, but please, oh please, don’t miss out on what God is doing right here, right now.
1 comment
What a perfect, honest description of where you are at…loved how you weaved in being overwhelmed by the awesomeness of God in the midst of being overwhelmed by all the rest. And for continuing to challenge us as well. Love you all soooooo much!