Friday night...we are blitzed, watching Netflix and giving ourselves permission to do as little as possible!
The past couple of weeks have been very different than what we had planned.  Our plans included a Native Ministry Leaders Gathering for three days, then one night at our suite in Prince Albert before heading home to Regina for some R & R.  In God's orchestration, we were in P.A. for that evening and attended a prayer meeting with some NCEM folks.  While there, we received a text of a tragic death and immediately went to the hospital to be with the family.  Thus began a journey of grief, filling in the gaps and being part of a support team for our friends.
More and more I am seeing how we need to rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  We cannot predict tragedy.  We cannot control circumstances.  But we CAN trust in the God of heaven and earth who knows all before it happens and can bring good out of despair. 
For the past two weeks, we have spent weekends at home and weekdays at the NCEM office.  Several times, people have thanked us for being available to support the family who lost a loved one.  They have been appreciative and we certainly don't feel we did anything special or out of what we ordinarily do in the course of ministry.  Still, we receive these encouraging words because it would be easy to feel disappointed at life and circumstances and not see God in the midst.
Next Wednesday, we have a long-overdue Executive Meeting, which has a very full agenda.  Then we have a four-day Leadership week to prepare for in mid-June.  Maybe after that, we may carve time out for some "home therapy" - time at home - and time to reconnect with friends and church family and our own family!
Just so people don't get the impression that "missionaries" and pastors and other full-time Christian workers are somehow perfect and sinless, I am here to tell you we do get weary, tired, disappointed and yes, even frustrated when things don't go our way!  I also want you to to know, we are held in the hands of our loving heavenly Father and can trust Him to sustain when we are weak and to prepare times of rest.  Psalm 23 is filled with the beautiful imagery of the Shepherd making His sheep lie down in green pastures and leading them to quiet waters.  He even prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies!  The Shepherd knows our needs and can give us peace in the midst of the battle. 
I pray for rest this weekend and strength to rise on wings like an eagle...