DUST

Deuteronomy 28:24 "The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed" (NIV).

We are in another major dust storm. When people told me they had dust storms over here my mind always thought of strong winds blowing stuff around. That is not what I have experienced here. It has been much more subtle than that. Its like we wake up or walk outside and its just there; it kind of hangs there; or maybe its not hanging but gently, slowly, gracefully falling from the sky.

It is so weird outside right now it seems like we could be on planet Mars. The color is messed up, the temperature is outta wack, and the air smells dirty. Visibility is limited, lights have a strange red/brown glow. All the flights are canceled, convoy missions are canceled, things kinda slow down or stop. I guess even a curse can be a blessing in some ways.

This is probably the fifteenth time we have experienced this in the few months we have been here. For many of the guys I serve with it is hard to imagine what is worth fighting for in this forsaken land. Yet it is home to many people who would die for it; many people who have died for it.

My wife (Amy) sent me two temperature gages. I wanted one for the sun and one for the shade. I figure the real temp is somewhere in between. It is hard to believe that it is consistently over 115 degrees. It does not feel that hot to me. Its not all that bad. It sounded soooo bad before I got here, it is all perspective.

I know that the beauty of a land is tied to the memory of the people you meet there. When I held resentment in my heart i could not wait to leave my home as a young man. Now as an adult, who has taken care of the past, I see things differently once again. I long for and even love the prairies of North Dakota. My wife thinks I'm crazy. She is from Big Sky Montana. She wonders who would ever want to live in a forsaken place like that.

I used to call it the land of the leftovers. A few leftover trees, a couple small rolling hills, nothing big, nothing fancy, thats my home. Some people may think it cursed. If a blessing or a curse is tied to your environment; maybe then this place is cursed. But what if a blessing or curse is tied to relationship with others or to relationship with God? Then I'm blessed beond the curse and my environment has little to do with it.

Is your hope invested in your environment or your relationships?
If you are not in the right relationship with Christ you are still under the curse with the rest of creation.

Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.