two things to do when you don’t know what to do.

If you’re popping in here and wondering what’s going on, well it’s Graffiti Summer Study and Do. We’d love for you to join in – you can get info here. I’m over at Stephanie’s, Crayon Marks and Tiger Stripes, talking about what you might find on my google searches. Please stop by and tell her “hey!”

I always love it when words that I’ve written come back to speak to me. Well, love might be a strong word for what I’m feeling today as Graffiti Summer is really challenging me. You should join in too and be challenged . . . just sayin’ Make this a summer to remember!

After laying out my confused soul yesterday, I said I would follow through with the DO Assignment in Graffiti. In this introductory lesson we were to drive to “the other side” of town or walk across the street with eyes and heart intentionally open to our surroundings and open to what God would show us.

Eyes wide open.

After my conversation with my friend, my eyes and heart were open. They were opened in raw frustration. I knew I had to force myself to see more. I needed to understand more of what she was talking about, so I decided to take the challenge and venture where she worked.

Don’t get crazy! I didn’t go in — yet. I just wanted to see where this place was, the area of town, and I thought just maybe if I saw I would know what to do. I thought God would reveal that black and white answer I was longing for.

So, with the sunroof open and the music blaring, I headed out with club address in hand. It was pretty much regular city living most of the trip there. But nearing the club things changed a little. More people were out at the bus stops and the buildings were older and more ran down. Pawn shops were more prevalent and beer trucks lined the driveways of the bars. But overall there weren’t blaring differences. It was busy people busy with life.

I parked and took it all in longing for an answer. I felt like a stalker or an undercover agent as I sat and snapped some photo’s. But as I sat staring at the building wondering what, if anything, could be done, my frustrations grew. I always feel like I need to do something. Don’t you?

Have you ever noticed that’s how it is so often when we reach out to help or serve another? The neighbor across the street who needs a hand and we wonder how we can be of help. The family who just lost a child and we feel that urge to do something, but there’s nothing readily to do.

I was reminded of Micky in Guatemala who taught me that sometimes just being there is enough. Through my time with Micky I learned that I didn’t have to “fix” anything, I just needed to be there. I was enough!

My answer didn’t come in black and white, but I do know what to do for now.

There are two things you can do when you don’t know what to do.

1. Listen.

I had heard my friend. My heart hurt with hers. My tears fell right along side of hers.

It’s hard to just listen sometimes, but yet there are many out there who long to be heard. And while we hear the cries of a hurting world that does not mean we will have solutions to every need. [tweet that] Frustrating yes, but true.

So, I’ll keep listening with an open heart. I’ll let her know I’m here for her. I’ll listen to her heart, her frustrations, and her cries. And then I’ll do all I can and . . .

2. Love.

While I can’t force my friend out of that job at the moment nor can I rescue the girls inside, I can love them. I can serve them as I have opportunity.

I’ll learn to love as Jesus did while I don’t know what to do — and love unconditionally.

No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. (1 Cor 13:4-7 MSG)

How about you?

Are you like me and you so easily want to “do or fix something?”

In this messy world, I’m learning sometimes doin’ and fixin’ ain’t easy. Sorry that Texas accent is slipping back in, but it does that when I’m tired. This challenge and my own thoughts have wore me out this week.

I hope you are joining us on this Graffiti Summer journey. Be sure to check out the other bloggers who are telling of their journey in the links below. The stories are inspiring.

Next week we’ll look at Broken for Others. Get the book Graffiti and join in as we begin seeing how Moses lived a Graffiti life.