May 2002

Dear Friends,

God is full of surprises. You never quite know when He will present you with an absolutely gorgeous day—sun shining and a clear blue sky with light breezes of fresh air, the kind of day when you stop and say, "Oh thank you Lord for all you give us. It is so good to be alive!" Or when He makes a casual encounter memorable for the participants. Recently, while in Zagreb, I stopped in to visit a woman who owns a company that sells educational toys. Usually we only talk business and we are both in a rush so we do not have a chance to sit and chat. She asked me a couple of times to come by sometime just for a cup of coffee when I was in town.

The conversation began ordinarily enough—about our work, health, and families. Then she began to ask me questions about why I was in Croatia and how I got here. Well, she already knew I was a mission worker developing psychosocial programs for at-risk children in conjunction with Croatians, so I knew what she was asking was for a deeper answer. I felt the Holy Spirit working in me as I shared with her my faith journey. I shared how I heard God call me to work with suffering children and how He placed such a hunger in my heart to serve His flock in distant lands, especially those in turmoil. She asked me about what it meant to be a Presbyterian. I explained some of the basic tenets of our faith, emphasizing our similarities with other Christian faith traditions such as our belief that Christ was both human and divine, but also highlighted a few of our special qualities such as our belief in a democratic polity. She listened with interest.

Then she began to share her faith journey, its many twists and turns, stops and starts, and placed it in the complex context of a post-communist, post-war society. A society which is full of people such as herself struggling to find her own way with many competing interests and lack of clear direction. She explained how many embrace materialism and have lost their faith in abstract belief systems. After the disillusionment of communism and the unfortunate manipulation of churches by politicians during the past war, many people have become skeptical about belief systems or have abandoned their faith completely.

She revealed how she found new meaning in the Catholic Mass she attends and how she has become active once again in her church’s choir and social outreach programs. Her face lit up as she talked about feeling the spirit of God fill her once again. "Sure," she admitted "it is still hard to see many people fill the pews each Sunday out of some cultural obligation or family duty rather than out of a real joy to be with the Lord, but I should be an encouraging presence to them. I need to share the joy of rediscovering the Lord with them!"

I was reminded of several important things that day. One, God reminded me that He can use any moment to reveal His wondrous love for us. I guess we are all guilty at times of getting stuck in our routines –– just carrying out our work without stopping and taking advantage of those Kairos moments when the Lord wants so desperately for us to wake up and share Him with others! This woman took that moment and made it a profound experience for both of us! Who was the missionary in this situation? Aren’t we all called to journey with each other and share one another’s joys and burdens? I also was reminded that there are concerned Croatians working within their own churches to revive the desire to know God.

God also surprises us with negative events. Even things we know are coming may still upset us when they finally occur. We think that day will never come, but it does. Though even during these negative situations God’s love is evident, His presence is felt.

Many of you know that I have a chronic kidney disease. Recently, while in the hospital here in Croatia, I discovered that the disease has progressed and my kidneys are no longer functioning normally. I knew this day would come, I know the disease is progressive, yet still it was saddening. I felt hurt that I was given this burden at such a relatively young age––how could God want me to have this disease? What is the purpose?

I have often consoled myself with the idea that my chronic illness has better prepared me for working with children who also have to cope with such illnesses. Indeed it is true that I feel a special empathy for them––the Lord has worked in my heart and through my life over the years to see to that. Yet perhaps there is more to it than that, perhaps the meeting I had with that women and my illness are not so far apart in terms of the Lord’s purpose for me. God wants me to slow down and focus my work on sharing how the Lord has helped me overcome challenges and how He is helping me to face new ones can encourage others struggling with similar challenges. Ultimately, my goal is the goal of all Christians, to share the greatest reason for hope. Christ has already died and paid the dearest price for our eternal life. Pain and suffering have already been conquered! We can go on rejoicing knowing that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of our Lord!

God, I thank you for your infinite mercy. Thank you for surprising us when we need it––to wake us from our unawareness of just how good you are!

Your brother in Christ,

Brett McMichael

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 79