Once, a long time ago I had a conversation with a friend about keeping our hands open. It was at a time when close friends were beginning to go in different directions, courses were changing as life's dreams were beginning to be aspired to. Of course there was sadness in my heart as my friend kindly told me, "Grace, you have to keep your hands open; if you hold so tightly to the blessings the Lord has already given you may miss the blessings He wants to bring." whether it's friends, places, roles or ministries there is a time for every season. Some seasons we gladly say goodbye to, some we wish we could draw out indefinitely.
As I look back on the seasons that we've been in Split, I'm so blessed to see the Lord's hand in each of them. Always He has been faithful to lead and guide, so gracious in His provision. So, now we stand at a new crossroads; those of you who read our last newsletter know that the we really feel like the Lord is leading us to close the cafe. Of course there is some excitement at the thought of what could be coming next, but isn't it human nature to cling to what we know? When I think of the Global Cafe I think of all of the friends who have contributed to its being. Of all the hopes and vision that have been prayerfully considered, of sweet times of worship and fellowship, of many conversations with many students.
Sometimes, to be obedient is to look past what is logical. Recently I was reading the kids the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan river into the promised land. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant had to step into the water first, then the waves receded. I wonder if they thought Joshua was crazy, or if they remembered the Red Sea? I love in Psalm 34 when it says, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who puts his trust in Him." God's past faithfulness demands my present trust. I've tasted and seen that the Lord is good, every good and every perfect gift comes from my Father with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. So instead of standing on the shoreline, thinking I prefer the security of solid ground beneath my feet, I know that when we step out into the water He has already gone before.
We still have to find a place to meet on Sundays, a daunting task when we consider that before meeting in the cafe we were denied many places when the owners found out that we wanted to have "non-Catholic" Bible meetings. I'm confident that as we open our hands, letting go of what we see as practical, the Lord will fill our hearts and hands with new blessings, showing Himself strong on our behalf yet again.
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