Have you heard of the app Marco Polo? Now, I'm not one to tout the benefits of technology. In fact, if you polled those closest to me, you would discover I have a nostalgic longing to return to the days of dirt roads, equine-powered transportation, and communication via paper and pen. Picture a creaking rocking chair on a wrap-around porch overlooking an expansive pasture where the words gigabyte and telephone would sound like alien gobbledegook if anyone dared to mutter them. Oh yeah, that's heaven for me. However, since God has seen fit to plop me down in the middle of the technological wonderland that is this century, I've had to make peace with my inner pioneer and embrace the digital ways of our day.
Marco Polo is sort of like video texting. Like a text message, you say what you need to say, hit Send and await the person's response. It takes a few seconds (or minutes depending on your propensity to chat) and then you move along your merry little way. You can literally have a face-to-face conversation throughout your day as you find pockets of time to do so. In the midst of the busy lives we lead, I have found this to be so refreshing. There's just something wonderful about being able to see the facial expressions of your friend as they share their heart or news or encouragement with you. And, BONUS, the videos sit there forever like a text message so you can pull them back up! For us mid-lifers with crazy brain, that's gold.
The reason I'm sharing this with you is I have found such life on this app the last couple of weeks, and I thought you might too. As I shared a few weeks ago, I've got some stuff going on in my life that I may share at a later date, and I have needed some major encouragement. I work from home, so I am alone for hours a day. That can be a recipe for ruminating and pit-dwelling for any of us. But God has sent such sweet encouragement through my friends who are not only here in town but are also 4 hours away. We have spent time crying, getting up in each others' kitchen, speaking Truth, and praying over each other on this silly little app. Just last night we laughed through broken tears. You can't get that through a text. I can't believe I'm saying this, but God used this technology to wrap me and my friends up in community when we needed it most. He is so faithful. If you're looking for a way to connect with your people but are feeling lonely, something like this app might just be the answer you're looking for. Christian community is important. We need to pursue it.
But God showed me something else: his creativity in providing for us. Since moving away from my best friends and starting a new life back here in Houston, I have been asking God for friends but absolutely not knowing how to make it work with the life he has given us here. Then he used one of the things I never thought I could love: technology. He opened up a new avenue to give me something I desperately needed.
Is God opening up a new avenue for you? Is there something you are needing from God but have no idea how to receive? Is it possible you need to widen your lens, to look outside of the expected and "normal" ways he provides? God is creative. He's able to fashion something out of nothing and provide where there seems to be nowhere from which provision should come. Guys, God has provided us with a free car before! Nothing is beyond his ability. He hears you. He sees you. He will provide; it just may look different than you thought it would.
I pray today that as you seek Jesus, he provides a life-giving community for you and opens your eyes to the new ways in which he is moving in your life. He is faithful to provide everything you need for life and godliness, so keep your head on a swivel. He might do it in a way you would have never even imagined. He's fun like that!