Setbacks

I get a kick out of setbacks...well not at first, but later when I can reflect back on them.  I'm reminding myself of that right now while my family and I wait for the mechanics at a local car dealership to repair the family minivan.  We were supposed to leave at 6am today for an 8 day trip to CO, but the van starting acting goofy last night.  Setbacks always come when least expected and when they can have the most negative impact.  At least that's my theory.

Trena and I knew that we would encounter lots of setbacks and road blocks as we made the decision to pursue church planting.  We planned and strategized everything we could think of.  And when we had planned and re-planned, we agreed that in spite of our best efforts there was no way this would all come together according to the plan.  That is part of what makes this such an adventure!  Well, it didn't take long to hit our first setback...the job transfer we had hoped to get for Trena was not available.  We knew the plan wouldn't go off without a hitch, but I have to admit we thought we would get a little father than the starting gates before things went awry!

We've now had a few weeks to process that setback and, with the benfit of retrospect, we now count it a blessing.  We are able to spend Christmas together without the headache of moving.  We have more time to develop support here in Texas.  And we can be more selective about housing in Colorado since we aren't rushed.  Those are just a few of the positives we see.  Sure it would have been great to just keep charging ahead at full tilt, but we are trusting God's timing and his perfect will are waaaayyyy better than our own. 

I am learning to celebrate setbacks instead of dreading them.  They are inevitable.  They are part of what makes this life such an aweome experience.  There would be no Cinderella stories without them.  No David and Goliath.  No overcoming overwhleming odds.  No rags to riches.  Life would not be as colorful and rich and exciting without setbacks.  I wonder if setbacks might be the work of God...the work of his hands to get our will aligned with his own?

Now if they would just hurry up and get that van ready so we can get out of here!