I'm not going for comfortable

I heard this quote recently and I really liked it. Most of our lives we spend trying to make ourselves more comfortable. It makes sense really. And as they say on Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." Or is there?

Comfort has been on my mind because I recently signed on to be an advisor for our church's Woodwork trip. It's a Habitat for Humanity trip where over 100 people (most of them teenagers) go and labor and sweat to build houses for folks who need them.

In years past, the Woodswork trip has gone on countless trips to countless places (I don't know how many and I don't know where, which is why I'm using the word "countless" ;) but it's true. They have been sweating and building and giving tangible love and hope and encouragement to the less fortunate.

My summer was looming large ahead of me----a vast wasteland of my usual routines, with nary a service trip in sight----when it struck me that I should see if I could be of some assistance on the Woodwork trip. I approached the leadership of the trip with fear and trembling (because I was uncertain if they would accept my last-minute plea to participate) but they had a need. Some other advisors dropped out and the next thing I knew I was going!

I was thrilled until I learned more details----wake up is at about 5:30 a.m. (I never see that hour on my digital clock, unless it's P.M.) All day, we hammer and saw and build---things I'm not particularly skilled at! When you think there might be some free time, there are actually small groups and program time. Bed time is at 11:00 p.m., if we're lucky, and our sleeping bags are arranged on a nice cushy gym floor. Sounds fun, right? ;)

But then I heard the quote "I'm not going for comfortable" and I remembered that that's what I'm about. I need to get uncomfortable. I need to move from an "all-about-me" to an "all-about-God" mentality. I know it's dangerous, but I pray that this trip stretches me to the point where I look more like Jesus.