Whenever you move it is not unusual to seek to be involved in those things in the new place in which you were involved in your previous location. So, when we moved to California two years ago, I tried to find some place I could referee soccer. I tried to contact someone in the city to which I had moved, to no avail. Finally, I found some recreational games in Dublin, and I started to referee a few games in the fall. There weren't many games, but I enjoyed the ones I was able to referee.
I was impatient to get involved in the soccer part of my life again. I then sought a place to do high school soccer and jumped at the first organization I could find, which was in Concord. Two weeks later I found the organization in Pleasanton, which, of course, was comprised of schools that were located much closer than the ones in the Concord organization. I ended up working a couple days a week this winter alternating between the two organizations, but was unable to answer any emergency needs for either organization, because I was already booked.
This spring I did a few recreational games in Concord, because there weren't any available in Dublin when I was available. Then someone put me in touch with the organization in Pleasanton. Now every weekend I get pleas from all three organizations to referee games. I am no longer traveling to the Concord area but have been alternating between Dublin and Pleasanton.
I am also an instructor for referees. I had hoped to do some of that during the spring and summer months, but again I couldn't find any group that needed my help. Then about three weeks ago they needed someone for a grade 9 course, so I jumped in to help. Next thing I know, I am booked to help with another grade 9 course and I have been asked to help with a grade 8 course all in a two week period. I am now over-involved and need to reassess how much time I can spend with the soccer part of my life.
Do you ever get overbooked? Do ever wonder how it all began? Do you ever hope you could just start over again and guard your time a little better?
I do. It requires not only being able to say, "NO, not at this time." It also requires some patience. If I had been more patient in getting involved in soccer, I wouldn't have so many requests now. I wouldn't have the times of stress when I am trying to fit one more thing into my schedule.
Sometimes we just need to offer up to God our desires and wait for him to answer them.
Just yesterday this happened in a different area in my life. Our used lawnmower stopped working about two weeks ago. This last week I have been shopping the hardware stores, Sears, and Craig's List for another mower. On a hunch or prompting of the Spirit, whichever you want to call it, I asked a neighbor if he knew anyone who worked on small engines. He did and gave me the name and location of a person about three blocks from where we live. I knocked on that person's door and the long and short of it is he graciously agreed to work on our lawnmower and in an hour had it fixed. I asked him how much I owed him, and he said, "Would twenty dollars be too much?" I gave him twenty-five. Sorry, Sears, I have found someone who will take the mower apart and refine its workings for about a fifth of what it would normally cost from the Sears repair shop. Both Joan and I were afraid we would have to spend at least 100 dollars for a repair and maybe even more to get another mower to do our lawn.
Waiting is hard, but patience in that waiting can reap great benefits. I pray that what you are seeking will be ready soon. As you patiently wait, I also pray you will grow in your faith in the One who cares for all your needs.
Growing in patience and faith with you,
Pastor Randy
