A Lone Reed
I wrote this from Frankfurt a few days ago. “When I’m tired I’m more easily offended. That is not the best admission or start for a gospel volunteer. Two airlines are functioning together so I got in line. The ticket said one thing but after 1.5 hours I was redirected. Thank goodness for Jackie and Patricia who got me to the airport so early, even with a frwy closure. TSA number was resubmitted because the right hand does not always know what the left hand knows at an airport. I was happy with the seat assignment for a 9.5 hour flight but discovered it was for the later one-hour flight. My bad. I was squished into the middle of the middle of row 42 on an airbus vs an airplane! I’m thinking someone hates me. I did have good exchanges with the giant college kid on the aisle but we were both so squished our backpacks seemed to comingle. Movies are a good distraction at a time like this but I will never know the ending because we landed in Frankfurt. Because we left an hour late, the 4.5 hour layover became 3.5 hours but still unable to sleep. My closest attempt ended abruptly when three ladies sat directly behind my stretched-out self in a nearly empty waiting area. Why sit there and eat stinky food? I got up, took another walk, and found a far-flung quiet spot but was afraid to sleep and miss the connection. Could any of this have become a gospel conversation if being tired had not turned me into Ms Crabby? Lord, I’m sorry.”
Thinking about that 25-hour event (including a 9-hr time change) makes me ashamed. Another reminder that I can be so good and still so bad wherever I am. I arrived in Prague Monday night and had my first full day at the library ministry on Tuesday. Day two – the jetlag made it hard to focus. By day three I am pinching myself to be in this setting of faithful people in a post-Christian city, serving the community with all kinds of books, but focused on Christian books that tell the story of Jesus that the whole world needs to hear. I am reminded of the ‘Shop Around the Corner’ in the film, ‘You’ve Got Mail’. That is why I copied the phrase, “A Lone Reed”. We all know what that describes and this is that kind of salt and light. So far I have been shadowing the leaders and met a tutor and her student who use the space, a local missionary soon leaving to serve in Bosnia, a pastor, a British man looking for a Spanish Dictionary, lots of young moms coming for books and playtime, I’ve checked in a book on humility from a young man, said ‘dobry den (hello)’ a lot, swept, cleaned, watered plants, priced books, reshelved books, and am learning the computer with some Czech lettering? So far my credit card was rejected but the backup worked! One of the gifts that I was hoping would advance relationships may not be the gift I should be using. I’m friendly, but apparently Czechs think Americans are too friendly, smile too much, and that makes us suspicious. Yikes! Blend in Pam. Follow Jesus and hope to do some Kingdom good. Also in a very different space I’m disorganized but have a kind roommate. I need to read and write more in my spare time but still adjusting to a different life (like Kathleen Kelly in ‘You’ve Got Mail’). Today a book club meets and tomorrow is a children’s program! I pray daily that I am where God has plans.
Prague ahead!
On the street where I live
Great location in an Italian section?
