Since we've lived in Croatia, my awareness of how interwoven my life is with those around me has increased. That awareness turned into deep gratitude as I went through pictures and videos from 2015. This project is certainly a way for us to remember special occasions and milestones from the past year. But it's also a symbol of how we are surrounded by wonderful, generous people. Our lives could not and would not be what they are without so many friends and family with whom the Lord has blessed us.
There's something special about your first kid starting school. It's nature's way of telling us that it's time to get serious about parenting while giving us a few more moments of peace to do so. For Enoh it was pure excitement.
I'll be honest, I don't remember my first day of first grade. Maybe in Iowa it was a big deal. But here in Croatia it's a BIG DEAL. At the end of school last year they invited all the kids anticipating entering first grade to a presentation put on by 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders welcoming them to the school. It was at that time that Enoh was designated a First Grader. Over the summer books were ordered, supplies were bought and many, many, many questions were answered.
On Monday all the first graders and their parents stood outside the school in anticipation of which teacher they would get and how many of their friends would be in their class. When we finally entered, one of the teachers informed us she was just as nervous as we were. "So...not very," I thought to myself. But then I saw Petra biting her fingernails so I didn't say anything.
Once we all got to the classroom we received quite a number of papers including what looked like a college schedule. Like most other European nations, first graders in Croatia begin taking their second language in first grade. In addition to Croatian and English, Enoh has math, social studies, art, music, gym class and religious education.
Perhaps the most interesting thing was that the teacher asked each of the students to bring in a jastučić - a small pillow that he would sit on so his bottom doesn't get cold. I've mentioned it here before, but my whole elementary school experience was shaped by sitting on cold floors during assemblies, bleachers during presentations and un-cushioned (normal?) chairs during class. I've lived in Croatia for 8 years but I still don't understand why having cushioned chairs is such a big deal. Overall we are very pleased with the teacher Enoh has and have been encouraged by how excited he is to go to school everyday.
When Enoh came home, he received a Schültute - the German traditional way of making the first day of school even sweeter. We enjoy introducing our kids to various cultural traditions and Petra worked hard to put this together. Needless to say it put an exclamation mark on Enoh's first day of first grade.
Here's a short interview with Enoh on his first couple days of school.
From the Slavonian farmlands. . . to sunny Zagreb. . . to the bustling hub of Munich. . . to fireworks on the Fourth over NYC. . . to a ghost-town in Buffalo, I had journeyed 24 hours. In Croatia, my wife made last-minute arrangements for our four kids to be taken care of while she worked full-time and I traveled for a week.
Flying over Germany
The primary purpose of all of this was so I could be with my grandparents for their 70th anniversary celebration.
Robert and Delphine Bohall July 5, 2015
Seventy years!
Perfection? Perhaps as close as it gets on this earth. Seventy years of marriage represents a combination of God’s grace and human commitment; gifts of life, health and patience intertwined with hard work. It symbolizes the sort of unity many of us strive for.
Seventy years speaks to the past. It shows that a decision made at a time of innocence and naivety can be honored long after both have worn off. Actions breathe life to words spoken before their significance was realized.
Seventy years speaks to the present. It says follow me. It provides a path to walk and a hand to hold. When I asked my Grandma for advice she said "Keep it going". Later in the week I heard the words "Keep the faith." Our 10 years of marriage are surrounded by clouds of witnesses celebrating 40, 50, 60 and 70.
Seventy years speaks to the future. It proclaims that the definition of the relationship is given by the Provider and is proven by the fruit of faithfulness. An anniversary is a gift to following generations to be received with grateful hands prepared to be calloused.
No, it's not perfect. 70 years of marriage, I'm sure, has scars to show. Yet, is there any other thing on this fallen earth that points more clearly to the perfect love promised in the Old Testament and confirmed in the New? Is there any more important Christian testimony to the deep, deep love of Jesus?
The week before I traveled, before I even thought of making the trip, I began putting together the slideshow below. It's as I was working on it that these thoughts began taking shape.
On Friday, as my wife watched the finished product she asked if I'd like to go to be with them...in 24 hours. Long story short, I decided on a price limit, she looked for tickets which matched my limit, we talked, prayed, thought, then bought them. In less than 12 hours I was on my way. My wife initiated the decision, putting her concerns to the side. She, and others who have sacrificed their time and energy were the reason I could be here.
Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma for your commitment to one another. It was a privilege to celebrate 70 years with you.
Thank you, Dad and Mom, for helping make our last minute plans so smooth. I'm glad I was able to spend some quality time with you.
Thank you, Petra for your sacrifice. I am honored to be your husband. Volim te do neba visoko.
“One of the goals of Royal Rangers is to push you to your limit” our regional leader explained to us during a preparatory training session. “You never know how you’re going to react in extreme circumstances unless you’ve been pushed to your extreme ahead of time.”
This would be my third National Training Camp (NTC). My first was in Serbia as a participant. Last year I hosted and shadowed the leader so I would be prepared to lead in the future. This year the responsibility fell on me. Although I felt inadequate to lead, especially knowing my greatest weakness - public speaking in Croatian - would be exposed, I didn’t expect to be pushed to any particular extreme.
Throughout the camp I felt even more sure that this training would pass without any major challenge. In comparison with the flood-like conditions and my lack of experience last year, this year’s added experience plus perfect weather and the number of leaders supporting our effort, convinced me that this would pass without difficulty.
Then came Sunday morning. The finish line was ahead of us. Our award ceremony/church service would conclude the weekend and I felt okay. But as I began watching the slideshow summary of the weekend with the rest of the congregation tears began to well up. “What’s this?” I asked myself, stepping out of the sanctuary to collect myself before giving a report of the weekend.
I stood up to say how overwhelmed I was with thankfulness and nothing came out. I choked. This had never happened to me, in public or private. Another leader quickly took over and the show went on. But after the whole camp was over I had to process the whole event.
In retrospect, I had been pushed to my limit. Physically I hadn’t slept more than five hours a night for the last six nights - a very unusual occurrence for me. When I stepped on the scale on Sunday afternoon I realised I had lost three kilos - six pounds - since Thursday. Although I hadn’t run or physically exerted myself as much as I have at other times, various things took their physical toll on me.
Mentally I was spent as well. From preparing lectures and workshops to simply trying to give directions to convey what needed to happen in my second language was more of a burden than I expected.
Spiritually I had been seeking God’s help more than I have in a long time. How would these details be taken care of? Would everyone be safe? What if this happened…or that? The responsibility of 38 people fell on my shoulders for the first time in my life and I pleaded with God for help much more often than I normally do.
Finally, I had been pushed to my emotional limit. Throughout the weekend I had witnessed the growth of several of the young teenagers I work with. Additionally, leaders had come from Germany, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia and the other side of Croatia to support our efforts. God had rained down his mercy upon this camp in the very practical forms of leadership, experience and support. And when I saw the evidence of it at the end, I couldn’t hold it in.
The point is, I was pushed to the limit.
Isn’t that what we need? As a church, I believe we’re at our worst when we’re comfortable. Throughout the Bible, God’s people are called to serve the Lord with their heart, soul, mind and strength. How do we do so without being pushed to the extreme in each of those areas from time to time? Royal Rangers is a wholistic ministry aiming to equip men and women of God physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Part of this equipping means challenging each individual in all four of these aspects of their life.
In the end, I consider the training session a success. All of our goals were met, and teenagers and adults alike had been trained. And because of the number of eager leaders, beautiful weather and lack of unexpected obstacles, it was an enjoyable experience for many of us.
But the greatest success was that many of us were pushed to our limit. This, I believe is an invaluable part of becoming and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14)
It's been a long time since I blogged about the cultural differences between Croatia and America. Most likely, I won't start up again with any regularity. But when I watched this video of a certain Bostonian response to all the snow this year, I was shocked. Simply put, Croats, for many reasons, would not jump out of their windows into the snow with just their swimwear on. What causes so many Bostonians to do so? And Croats, why would this never be a thing in Croatia?
I’m as satisfied as could be. Warm, well-fed and rested, surrounded by friends and settled knowing that my family is safe, secure and waiting for me when I return, I couldn’t, in good conscience, desire more. Added to that is the fact that I’m enjoying a new book by an established spiritual mentor. The Nebraska state sign I read as a child passes through my mind; The Good Life.
“…Jesus withdrew from that place” (Matt 12:15)
Earlier today, we engaged in a mandatory time of silence. I had looked forward to this two hour block of time for months. St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was the source of my input while my MacBook mediated my output. I was determined to do more reading, writing and processing in the first hour than I had done in the previous week. I spent the second hour in prayer while exploring one of the northern Hungarian hills.
“When Jesus heard what happened, he withdrew…” (Matt 14:13)
Intentional silence allowed me to meditate. As I read Scripture, prayed and subsequently processed events from the previous couple days, I was convinced that I need to seek more. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would receive “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better”. I was challenged to pray that for myself, to continue to seek the Lord more deeply and to in turn pray for others in the same way Paul did.
“Jesus then left them and went away.” (Matt 16:4)
Isn’t it interesting that in Ephesians Paul cared more for the spiritual state of his friends than the circumstances they were enduring? As Keller notes, this is true of most of Paul’s prayers. As I consider the text, and the state of comfort I’m in now, I give thanks.
Father, thank you for this period of renewal. Thank you that your son set an example of withdrawing and that even you - Creator of the universe - rested.
Thank you for the place and state I’m in now. Yet, may my comfort be found more in you and less in my circumstances. When this period passes and the storm comes, may my peace be found in you. You are good and the source of all goodness. You are life and the source of life abundant. You, and you alone, are the source of the good life.
