Behind my back

"Over, under, around and through," my six-year-old mind would chant, eyes squinting with concerted effort as I recited the words in my head.

"You have to get that wrapped," my sixteen-year old mouth would gush at the gift store where I worked. "It'll be so much prettier."

My desire to have things neatly wrapped up has existed since I was a child. (This is a particularly frustrating problem since life isn't the neatest affair.) In my lifelong struggle to reconcile life's messiness, I'm commonly left with a wonky bow that I've hastily tied, or a package that's bumpy with the contents jammed inside a too-small box. However, I've noticed that when I turn my mind from the job, God tends to wrap it up perfectly.

I decided to give it a chance and let him make something pretty out of Kenya.

I got a job at a fantastic company where people supported my vision and lust for life.
He handed me an empty box.

Julius, Sarah and Elizabeth lit a fire underneath me about Africa, and everywhere I turned there was encouragement.
He put something inside of it.

As I shared my vision naturally with people, they financially and emotionally supported me.
He thoughtfully included the instructions so I could use it without frustration.

Not everyone believed in me, and the challenges drove me into God's arms.
He wrapped the gift in tissue paper and bubble wrap so it wouldn’t break.

I held a party that celebrated new adventures and burst with love and laughter…while raising a lot of money.
He shut and securely taped the box. There would be no reopening it without messing it up.

I saved, began my shots and did the preparatory work.
He wrapped the present.

On an otherwise uneventful Tuesday, I realized I now had all the money I needed.
He handed me the present, and it shimmered with the most beautiful gold paper.

Yesterday I received another donation, and tomorrow I get my final shots.
He remembered to put a bow on top.

On July 16, I'll get off a plane in Nairobi.
He's begging me to open it and show the world.

Today’s soundtrack: I'm Ready - Tracy Chapman - from the album New Beginning