‘HUNDREDDAY’

I ran into the pharmacy late one afternoon in December to pick up a prescription. It had been a looonnnggg day at the end of a looonnnggg year. While I waited for them to find our address on their system, I double-checked my to-do list, for I was wham-bang in the middle of my most challenging week of the year. Unknowingly, I gave a rather loud sigh, only to see the lady behind the counter looking up. I did not want her to think that I was impatient with her or the process.

 “Sorry, I mumbled sheepishly, it has been a looonnnggg day and a looonnnggg week!”

 But it is only Tuesday,” she said with an upbeat smile and enquiring frown.

 “Really, only Tuesday?”  I said incredulously and way too loud. “Well, if feels like HUNDREDDAY!”

 She could not contain her genuine laughter, nor could some of the other customers standing within earshot of our conversation.

 Last Thursday, January 9, I experienced another ‘HUNDREDDAY’. I am well aware that we all have challenging days like these, but that night, as I was sleeplessly tossing and turning in my bed, I realized that it had been almost exactly one month since my previous ‘HUNDREDDAY’.

 Ethnos officially opened its doors on Wednesday, January 8. I started my year with two long meetings at Carmel, the beautiful campsite on the way to Victoria Bay that we use for our missionary training and offices. Afterwards, on my way to the car, I was stopped by a Carmel guest I had never seen before.

 With a heavy English/German accent, she said, “I have been watching you today, and the Lord told me to tell you that REST IS YOUR WEAPON!” I am well acquainted with this quote from Elizabeth Elliot, “Rest is a weapon given to us by God,” but to receive it so directly from a stranger on my first day of work caught me off guard. She must have seen the surprise on my face, and with a wide angelic smile and soft blue eyes, she greeted me with “Shabbat Shalom.” We briefly chatted before we dashed off in opposite directions.

 The Lord could not have been clearer in his caution, I realized late that Thursday night on my first ‘HUNDREDDAY’ and second workday of the year. Listen, I must LISTEN and be obedient, I must BE OBEDIENT because ‘HUNDREDDAY’ is a highway with roadblocks named getting hurt, making mistakes, and committing sin.

 I don’t know what your weapon is. It could praise and worship, as it was for David. It could be prayer, as it was for Daniel. It could be patience as it was for Job. Regardless of what the Lord whispers to you in the middle of the night or speaks to you in broad daylight through a stranger, let’s be accountable to each other and give earnest heed to the Word and Warnings of the Lord.