April 2016 - Susan Panzica

Driving past the airport in the 4 am darkness, looking out the window, I saw acres of blue lights shining like glowing forget-me-nots on a black velvet carpet. From my ground level view, they looked totally random and downright messy.

But from above, these blue dots guide pilots to the correct destination avoiding total disaster. Each light is part of a complex pattern directing the plane to the proper runway to safely land from the sky, and then leading the pilot to the exact gate.

As the plane readied to take off, I noticed the control tower. In the midst of all the chaos, traffic controllers provided needed guidance and instruction. And when I landed, the ground crew further directed the pilot.

Just the perspective I needed that morning as I reflected on the random messes in my life. To me, these events and relationships are confusing and sometimes distressing. But to God, they’re part of an intricate pattern He designed to bring me to the destination He has in mind.

Both by His Spirit and through people on the ground, God provides the guidance and encouragement I need to continue on the journey He has set before me.

We often want our circumstances and our future to be clearly laid out before us. On this journey we’re traveling, God’s Word is a “lamp to our feet and a light to our paths.” (Ps. 139:105) It is not like a stadium floodlight that makes the night as bright as day. It’s more like a flashlight in the dark allowing us to see one step at a time. Perhaps if we could see more, we’d run the other way. But God leads us providing the peace and the strength to continue forward with trust that someday we will know. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” 1 Cor. 13:12

God is faithful. He will lead, and guide, and prompt us to follow. He wants us to do His will even more than we do. Too often, we seek a sign before we move. What He desires is for us to seek His way, to seek to be taught, to be sensitive to His leading and obedient to His call.

There are things that are crystal clear – activities and attitudes to avoid, and those to pursue. That’s where our focus should be. For what is not clear, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). We walk according to what is clear and trust Him to reveal the rest in His timing.

How to make it through the journey? Follow the directions for what you can see, and trust God for what you can’t see!

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. Heb. 11:1 (The Message)

Last fall, the salesclerk asked a simple question – one I answered easily every year. But this time, I hesitated.

“Would you like to add on ‘Thanks for Sharing’?” Smile. Slight head tilt. Hand outstretched. Credit card please?

Every year at that time – for a $25 enrollment fee that goes to charity – Macy’s offers their customers an opportunity to earn 10% back on their purchases through the end of the year. Since I usually spend at least $250 at Macy’s during this time, it always made financial sense to enroll.

But because of my growing awareness of human trafficking, slave labor, injustice in the world, and poverty, my spending patterns have changed. I no longer spend as much money in Macys, but browse catalogs by World Vision, IJM, Fair Trade vendors, etc.

And so I stood there mute, not moving a muscle while my brain raced away.

As the clock ticked and the awkward silence grew, I knew I had to say something. So I said the truth – that this year the question is not as easy to answer as previous years because things have changed.

I chose to explain to the salesclerk why I was hesitating. I told her about my organization, Justice Network, as well as others including Advent Conspiracy, Charity:Water, and how God is directing me to make my spending be intentional in both fighting poverty and injustice and building relationships with family and friends.

She stood there dumbfounded at first, but then she shared with me that her mother watches the 700 Club and often asks for prayer. “Isn’t that similar?” she asked. And then I was able to enter into a deep conversation with her. I ended up giving her my business card inviting her to read my blog. She asked about my church, and I was able to tell her about church and more importantly about God and what Christmas is really about for me and my family, and could be for her too.

I am, by nature, an introvert. My natural inclination would be just to say “No thank you” or “Sure sign me up” and leave it at that. But that night, God impressed upon me to speak up, and He gave me the words to share.

When I came home and told my daughter about the conversation, she said, “Way to go, Mom. That’s what Pastor Carl would call – occupying your street.” Her pastor, Carl Lenz of Hillsong NYC, took the Occupy Wall Street movement and applied the phrase to our Christian lives.

Her favorite quote among the many notes she took from his message, “Shock people with the dream in your heart, and impact them with your dedication to what’s in your hand.”

What was in my hand that day? My credit card.

Well I may not be dedicated to my credit card, but God used it just the same. I may never see that salesclerk again, but I will look for her on future visits to Macy’s.

And I decided to go ahead and purchase the $25 Thanks for Giving program. Whether it makes financial sense or not, the money goes to charity so it makes perfect sense.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. … And he called his servants… and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:10,13

How have you occupied your street?

Month: April 2016

Lights In The Darkness

Occupy Your Street!