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Stephanie J Thompson

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Destination?

February 22, 2013 by Stephanie Leave a Comment

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Getting to your destination is the point of the journey, isn’t it?  or not…..Wednesday, my L and I embarked on a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  I had noticed on the website that certain days are free days and why not take advantage of that?  It was decided last week that we would go.  Lena had been begging me for months and it is a great way to learn without feeling like it’s “school”.  Lena got up early, I strategically navigated my get ready time in between the off to school routines of the other two kids and everything was on schedule.  I just needed to run a quick errand on the way.  That agenda alone should have red-flagged me. 

The errand involved depositing a check into a local Atm that accepted deposits to my bank that wasn’t local.  It was not an out of the ordinary event.  However, as I attempted my “quick” errand, it became apparent that it would not be as easy as I assumed.  For some reason, the ATM wouldn’t perform the transaction.  Frustrated, I thought I’d try another one.  Nope.  What?  Now, I will need to take time to call my bank to find out what’s going on?  As I picked up my phone, I realized it was dead. AARGH!  Now that means stopping home to call and by now we’ve lost a half hour.  The museum closes at 4:00pm.  This isn’t fitting with my goal of having all day at the museum! 

Surprisingly, L was not frustrated.  Usually change of plans does not sit well with her but she didn’t seem to mind.  I; however; was focused on resolving the problem-problems-at hand.  I made my call to the bank and found out that apparently certain local banks were not longer accepting “outside” transactions.  I was given a list of other banks to try.  All of this while hoping to make a deposit by a certain time so we can get to our destination!  So, out of the house we ran.  After trying a few banks on the list and my frustration turning to despair at the thought for my day with my daughter being shortchanged,  I finally resolved the ATM issue! 

Again, I noticed that through it all Lena still was not upset.  I remembered a friend of mine saying that when her plans get detoured, she actually thanks God because the inconveniences may have actually been the hand of God at work.  Hmmmm.  It’s possible that L was just happy to spend the day together and the museum was part of it.

In the end, it was all good.  We had plenty of time to enjoy the museum.  I had even found a place to charge my phone-except that I forgot to bring the charging piece with!

All my securities and agendas were taken away.  The day was nothing like I envisioned.  And I am thankful.

Perhaps, it was a reminder for how life should be lived:  Living in the moments that lead to the destination.

Isn’t that why Jesus said he came to give us life in the abundant on Earth? (John 10:10)  For that I am thankful.

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When my first child was born 20 plus years ago, I envisioned taking just a few years off from my role as Pastor of Youth and Family. While that didn’t exactly unfold as expected, God used my gifts and skills in other ways. Read More…

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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

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  • Advent
  • Easter
  • five minute friday
  • Help! This was not in the book!
  • Sacred Connections

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