I had no idea how to spell dog eared but that is what phones are for. I sent this postcard to my cousin, Becky (who has traversed the globe), at least a month ago so the condition of this did not surprise her.
As I had been trying to complete the library inventory in Berlin, I saw some books that had a few dog eared pages. Out of ~8,000, in an established library, not too unexpected. Apparently, I got to about 6,000 and was told I only messed up twice. I’ll take that as a compliment. The postcard barely survived and so did I today. I had a simple chore of getting a train ticket and, on day 23 in this city, had my worst case of vertigo. Not really ‘vertigo’ but trying to fix what was up or down or north or south on a phone that is normally reliable but shocked me with its stubbornness. The app had me, happily, going in the opposite direction of my intended need and never let me know! I finally stepped into a nice hotel and two blocks later I was on my way. It is embarrassing to feel you’ve made progress in a city as large as Berlin and then to take so long on one outing. I’ve also been sick which is no bueno while abroad. Hello Pam, I’m going to heat your body to 100 degrees – so nasty. So beat-up postcard, beat-up body, feeling lost makes me think on my purpose. Good friends sent me here to have gospel conversations and then a day like this. Don’t ask me why but today it made me think of Kenny Rogers. Yes – the country singer – Kenny Rogers. The name fits him but I don’t know another grown man who could get away with being Kenny. I’m not sure if he wrote the song, ‘The Gambler’, but this chorus fits my day.
“You’ve got to know when to hold em, Know when to fold em, Know when to walk away, and Know when to run”. Pastor Aaron, today, directed me to John 15:1-5, Eph 2:10, and I Thes 1:1-4. He could tell I had one of those ‘Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day’s, but at least I didn’t wake up with chewing gum in my hair and my fever is down. Note to Pam from Ephesians, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. Well that part I got right – today I walked lots of extra miles in my haze. But, from First Thessalonians, “…He has chosen me…”. That still stands. No matter how disappointed or lost I feel in this place of purpose I, “…abide in Him…”, from John 15. These past few days have definitely been a time to ‘fold em’. I’m not a hypochondriac but did think to pack a thermometer but no umbrella. That was the blessing on this cloudy day – not a drop fell on me as I wandered all over town, purpose still intact.