The High Places of the Earth, Part V
posted by on 08/14/09
Well, no. One more trek up Bei Da Wu Shan or Yu Shan didn’t work out. I have returned to the rolling hills of home in West Virginia and a trip to Spruce Knob is in the making. But even between home and Taiwan, the Lord had one more surprise high place.
It started as a delay. One thing after another interrupted our take-off from Taipei. Then, after refueling, we waited by the runway one more time–over half an hour–until clearance was given. At 4:20pm we arrived in Japan just as our connecting flight was taking off.
I had enjoyed the waiting time actually, praying for my students, brushing up on Chinese and talking to the missionary who sat next to me; but I still wondered what the Lord was up too. In Tokyo we found out.
“We’re terribly sorry for the delay! We’re going to have to reroute all your connecting flights. And today they go through … Honolulu.” We could hardly believe it but it was true. Not only were we able to spend several hours there, the 
opportunity also came to go to Pearl Harbor–hmm–right after a flight in from Japan. I wish Grandpa could have been there with me. How grateful I am that the site was preserved so well. I also became more grateful than ever for the camera from Pastor James and his church!
As the next flight took off that afternoon, the Lord unveiled one last thrill. Out the left window, to the East, another mountain came into sight beyond a string of yellow sand. It was Diamond Head. Seeing it from
that perspective was the next best thing to climbing it I reckon!
A few hours later and I was home. What a trip. What an incredible few years of “Teaching English”! The Eiffel Tower, Austria, the Danube River, the Great Wall of China and Red Square, the concentration camps in Poland, beautiful aerial 
views of Greenland, winter in Mongolia, Christmas in Russia, the Pacific Ocean, then Taipei 101 and Jade Mountain, Hawaii all came by the way, very unexpected sidelights on a journey of service with Christ. And what greater joy that to return to fellowship with a family that rejoices in service to Christ every day and chooses to honor Him first!
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:13-14)
Wow! Sounds like you had a very interesting time! Isn’t it great to know that God is in control of every part of our lives, and sometimes He plans a few surprises for us!
Amen! I still can’t believe how shocked I was when you told us the Hawaii story. God works all things together for good!
And it is sooo good to have you back home for longer than just a few days. So much more gets done around here with you back!
Thank you Donald for your perspective and example. May we always remember that serving Christ brings the greatest fulfillment and joy.
Wow, what amazing opporunities God provided for you! The Lord always has surprises when we least expect them.
Thank you all. Keep serving where you are! “As we have … opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
God has truly blessed you! The more we let go of what WE think would be the funnest thing to do and let God direct us to do what HE thinks is best, the more He delights to give us fun times to experience. The one who plans it will get the most glory out of it.
[...] Spruce Knob was just a dream for a long time–until last weekend! Thank you! to everyone who made it possible—and for [...]