The team has returned to US soil. However, due to baggage trouble in Miami, we have separated to take different paths to our final destinations. Linda and I are presently in Chicago, while Kim and Larry are in Dallas and Nick and Brandon are in Columbus. We all anticipate being home before day's end. We are all healthy, and filled with a renewed sense of God's grace and providence.
I thought I would conclude the telling of this year's Ecuador mission story by relating some thoughts about a bald eagle we saw on Sunday afternoon. After worship at the Galilee church in Otavalo, the team decided to visit Condor Parque ( something I had wanted to do for several years. ) True to it's name, there were several condors in residence there on the side of the mountain. Huge birds, they were there as the result of injuries sustained in the wild.Although the condors were unable to fly, the highlight of our day was to observe a bald eagle in flight. A professional who works with these birds brought the eagle out to where we were seated. Over the next half hour, we were graced with the raw beauty and strength of this magnificent bird. Initially, as the trainer released him, the eagle would fly just a few dozen feet, and then quickly return to his master's arm. Finally, after several forays, the began to fly in ever-widening circles and ever higher spirals. For a few minutes, our view was blocked as he flew towards the sun, and his flight seemed to be over a mile in diameter. He concluded this seemingly effortless display by diving dramatically into the space just in front of us, finally coming to rest on his master's arm. The scene was was wild - beyond our control.
While watching, my mind focused on the idea of dreaming and seeing a dream through to it's end. Ecuador has been like that for some of us. But it is not yet complete. We are like that eagle in his initial forays. There are bigger dreams that have been dreamed, and that are yet to be dreamed. We need to speak them out, and share them with one another. And then we need to pursue them, through their completion.
What has God spoken to you? Of what do you dream (if at all)? Is your dream God-sized, God-given? Spend some time with Him today, and ask what dream He has for you, and for your "team".
Sitting in the airport,
Tim
