Em Português

Quarantine has been great for my running, gym is closed and surf is flat. I don’t know what’s going on with my phone but roaming data isn’t working. I went online and checked a bunch of things that it could be but no use, I’m stuck with 1:30 minutes of silence at 5:30 am.

I tend to think of my morning runs as part of my devotional life. I listen to the Bible, or bible teaching, or worship… but it’s a constant inflow of information and sound, not too conducive to talking with God.

Since my phone broke I’ve been talking to and hearing from the Lord a ton. It’s been so cool. I really need this as Kati and I plan and take steps towards our move to Portugal. The destabilization of a big decision like that has an aspect of euphoria and wonder in the beginning. Soon though the excitement is replaced with a low grade anxiety as regular routines lose their meaning in light of pending change. Don’t get me wrong (especially our financial partners), Kati and I have no problem staying busy with work and personal responsibilities every day. Actually one of the things that makes our move easier is that most of our work is currently not too location relevant.

But the silence on the road has offered a great opportunity or me to hear God’s voice like I haven’t done for quite a while.

A Bênção do Silêncio

A quarentena tem sido ótimo para as minhas corridas de manhã, enquanto a academia está fechada e quando não há ondas boas pra surfar.  Eu não sei o que está acontecendo com o meu iPhone mas o roaming data não está funcionando por alguns dias.  Eu fui online pra ver como resolver o problema mas ainda não consegui, e por isso me sobra uma corrida de 1:45 minutos em silêncio.  

Eu geralmente penso nas minhas corridas matinais como parte da minha vida devocional.  Eu escuto a Bíblia, ou pregação ou louvor… mas estou sempre escutando algo, que dificulta ouvir a voz de Deus se Ele quiser falar comigo.  

Desde que tenho esse problema com meu telefone eu tenho ouvido muito mais a voz de Deus nas minhas corridas.  Isso tem sido muito bom.  Eu e a Kati realmente precisamos ouvir ao Senhor neste tempo de planejar nossa mudança para Portugal.  No início quando nós tomamos uma decisão que mudará toda nossa vida é empolgante.  Porém em pouco tempo a euforia da novidade passa e vem uma ansiedade porque perdemos a rotina da vida diária, já que agora tudo vai mudar.  

Então em meio à toda essa turbulência eu estou feliz que meu iPhone parou de funcionar (pelo menos por enquanto). Porque está me forcando a passar mais tempo no silêncio com Deus.  

Psalm 119:147 “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words”

Our family’s recent relocation to the U.S. has been a euphoric whirlwind.  But after the initial excitement of change the harsh reality of life’s pressures – no matter where you are – are starting to get tough.

When I share with Americans about my 16 years in Brazil I would always sense their aversion to the economic and social chaos that exists Latin America.  Above all, the political corruption that trickles down to the streets in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are things that most Americans look at and think, “Why would you want to live there, if you had a choice?”

But being back in America has made me aware of the very real pressures and challenges that we face here.  Oxnard, California where I live has miles of beautiful beaches, but most people I know here hardly ever get to enjoy them.  Most everyone is so busy frantically trying to survive, especially the parents.  Even if you decide to be an ascetic hippy your kids will probably be sucked into the consumer machine… and it seems like many American parents have to keep worrying about their kids needs into their 30s and 40s.

While I’m occupied with work and family responsibilities I generally deal pretty well with the anxiety seething in my subconscious.  Most nights however there is a moment that I wake up and really ponder the worst outcomes of my current challenges and the fact that I really can’t deal with that.  In other words, if the worst happens I’m not going to be OK.  These are my thoughts most nights at 2:00 am.

Thankfully most nights I can can just sat a quick prayer and pass out again, or maybe listen to a boring How Stuff Works podcast to put me to sleep.  But once or twice a week the anxiety is too much and the only thing I can do is begin praying.

Sometimes I pray for half and hour, sometimes an hour.  Sometimes I drift in and out of sleep and prayer in a seamless journey through the night.  But inevitably the promise of Philipians 4:6,7 proves true: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus“.

Sometimes it takes half an hour, rare times maybe 2 hours, but the peace of God always comes.  I believe in the importance of a disciplined prayer and devotional life, waking up early, etc.  But the impromptu prayer times of the wee hours of the night can also be times when we experience the Father’s embrace in a wonderful way.  And I’m so thankful He’s there because tomorrow I’m going to need a lot of energy… sufficient to each day are the evils thereof.