This has been a week of challenges, victories, and a whole lot of excitement. As we look to our final few days in the states, we are feeling so “not ready” to travel around the world. Moving into our downsized home has presented many challenges. “How do you take 4 bedrooms, an office, family room, and tons of storage and fit it into a two bedroom home? When we get back in June we will certainly be completing our “downsizing.”

As far as the victories and excitement goes… This week I went into the hospital for a procedure on my frozen shoulder. The procedure, which includes ripping and tearing of the joint to “unfreeze” the adhesion went well. As we left the hospital I got on the phone to order Thai food and we stopped at the local pharmacy to fill the prescriptions the doctor gave me. While in line I wasn’t feeling so well. Probably a combination of the two pain pills the RN insisted I take before we leave and the anesthesia wearing off. Next thing I remember was 4 firemen and 2 paramedics staring over me asking me my name, where I thought I was, and what day it is… I passed out due to low blood pressure and super low heart rate.

So back to the hospital I go whirling away in the back of an ambulance as Lori quickly makes a few purchases, picks up the Thai food and drives it home to a hungry 17 year old. But like always, God is so good! I was released feeling quite nauseated several hours later and what went from an uneventful surgical procedure turned into quite the event in the middle of Walgreen’s Pharmacy.

Yesterday we went back to the pharmacy and I was able to introduce myself to all the helpful workers. They were happy to see me upright this time. The informed me that they are Christians and were praying for me as this whole thing was taking place. 🙂

So, what did I take from this crazy event? First, expect the unexpected. At one moment life is going by and you are in the middle of it ordering dinner to go from your local Thai food restaurant, the next moment you could be laying on your face in the middle of your neighborhood pharmacy. There are no guarantees that the road the Lord has for you and me are going to be without challenges. The question I ask myself is, “am I ready for the challenges?” Does my faith allow me to hold onto the Lord or do I expect Him to keep me safe and warm, free from the pot holes on the road he has paved for us?

If I truly believe God is good all the time, then I have to trust that He is just as good when things appear different than I expected. I don’t really know why God allowed me to conk out on the floor at Walgreen’s. But I do know that it helped me to see my need for Him in a way I would had missed had the day gone off without a hitch.

What are you going through today that you may have not expected? Personal struggles at home, a difficult person you have to deal with at work, or maybe you have some concerns about health or finances. Whatever you are going through, remember today that God is good and he cares for you more than you could ever imagine.

Be Blessed,
Keith