A Bigger Sack

Greetings From the Middle of Nowhere,

If you’re reading this, we are still afloat, somewhere in the eastern   side of the Atlantic. (during hurricane season, I might add). When and if this goes out, we will have been at sea for eight days.

With any luck, in a couple of days Tony and I will be snorkelling in St John.  Everyone says it’s beautiful, but have they seen the Great Barrier Reef?  Who knows, I’ll let you know. There is a little codicil that you need to be able to swim, which may be a challenge for me, but hopefully……

But thinking about things nautical reminded me of an old story that came from Buddy, Tony’s Dad.  You probably know that his folks lived many years in Taiwan and so beach combing was a favourite pastime.

In fact, many of the missionaries there enjoyed this exciting hobby.  As proof of their success, several families displayed the old glass balls that were used in fishing nets. They’re obviously very old, since nowadays everyone uses plastic. It takes a long time for the glass balls to drift to Taiwan from the Japan Sea, and for one to wash up on the beach intact is quite an achievement

One day Buddy went walking along the beach in Taiwan.  He had a shopping bag with him, anticipating a big ‘catch’ of fishing balls. He did find several softball-size ones. They make great decorations to scatter around on the sideboard in the dining room, a subtle reminder of your prowess as a beach comber. But what Buddy really wanted was a BIG one, like his neighbour had found. He may have included that wish in his prayer as he was walking and meditating, because suddenly he spotted the gleam of something protruding from the sand. It was a fishing ball …… a BIG one! 

He staggered over the sand to his discovery and started digging it out, overwhelmed with excitement. Finally removing it and holding it up, he saw that it was the biggest fishing ball he had ever seen. Pulling out his shopping bag, Buddy started trying unsuccessfully to stuff the ball in, all the while praising God for his wonderful mercy.

Then he started to doubt.

Lord, this is a really big find, and I’m really grateful… but you know … I’m not sure it’s as big as my neighbour’s. In fact, I’m pretty sure his is a little bigger than this one. Lord … wouldn’t it be just amazing if I would be able to find an even bigger one!  My friend would be so impressed with Your special love for me”

Years later, as he told this story, he would giggle when he got to the punch line where God spoke to him. The words came from the heart, but they were definitely from God, and impossible to misinterpret.

“You might have brought a bigger sack.”

I’m reminded of a Japanese phrase that describes someone who thinks big.  “Oboroshiki” means a huge cloth for carrying things. Ordinary ones are called “furoshiki” but big ones are known as “oboroshiki”, and it carries with it the idea of one’s expectations. Our dear friend and pastor, Naoki Noguchi always looked at God with the highest expectations.  He was an inspiration to remember that God can do anything. 

So far, Tony and I feel that we couldn’t handle any more things God has in store for us. We’ve enjoyed SO MUCH from God as well as from the friends we’re meeting and catching up with along the way. And if that’s not enough, we’ve been able to minister in the most interesting places and ways, and each day brings even more exciting opportunities. We don’t think we need a bigger sack because we couldn’t handle any more.  We’ve skirted storms (filled with tornadoes), covid, credit card fraud……. you name it.  We feel about as blessed as we can be.  We hope we can return some of the goodness we’ve enjoyed to others.  We don’t need a bigger sack!  

Got some time on your hands this week? Open up your Big Furoshiki and look again at what God has wrapped up for you.

Marsha