This morning I nearly missed my bus into town. I had waited to don my boots until I was out of doors because they were still dirty from the last time I had worn them. As I sat down to pull them on I found myself faced with a dilemma: should I rush off and leave behind a potentially great photograph, or should I take some time and capture an image or two which are certain to earn enduring appreciation from my three nephews.
I have seen one other praying mantis in Albania, but it was the color of dry wheat. I asked one of my friends what the word is for this beauty in Shqip and he said “Insect.” That was the end of our conversation.
I spent the lion’s share of today at a conference in Tirana for leaders in the Christian Church. We watched a number of pre-recorded seminar presentations. One was a talk by a man named James Collins who focused on a book of his entitled “Great By Choice.” I often times find inspirational Christian messages lacking, but when it came to this man I found myself taking copious notes. He didn’t sight Mayamato Musashi’s “Seven Spheres,” but the principles for success are definitely transcendent of culture and time. Maybe on the plane ride back to the States in December I will try to get into a conversation with Mr. Collins between naps on the plane.
Today I was faced with a beautiful young woman who was upset. Of course she was beautiful, she is a daughter of God. As we spoke I looked around and saw a five-string guitar sitting idle where its owner had set it down. To paraphrase, I told her, “Psalm 96 and Psalm 98 begin in the same way. They both begin with “I will sing to the LORD a new song…” You are like an instrument designed by God, and He knows exactly the song he wants to hear when he plays you. You see that guitar? You see how it was crafted, and how beautiful the wood is? Before that wood was part of a guitar it was a tree, which may have taken a long time to grow. That guitar didn’t take a few months to make, before the wood was a tree it was a seed, and before that it was something else. So really that guitar took hundreds of years to make. And the creator of that guitar cared for it not nearly as much as your Father God cared for and planned for you. And now God is putting you to use to play a new song, a song he wrote with you, His daughter, in mind.” It was a good reminder for me to see that guitar as well, and to remember all of the promises God has made for my life. I am His son, and He loves me more than I can know.
albaniacalling 