For too long I have daydreamed about the future of what it will and can be here in Panama; visions that will be put into action once I have the language skills. An event happened a few nights ago that has brought me to my knees crying. Reflecting on things I haven´t done, but yet the good in it has made me realize I need to take more action in my life. I have had “pena”, I´ve been shy and have not been outgoing with my Spanish.
We woke up the other night at midnight to our dogs barking somewhere down the road. Our dogs are like the neighborhood watch. They know who and what is walking in the night. Once the dogs quieted down we could hear someone in the near distance singing something. The voice sounded calm, and repetitive, somewhat like a song. [Alan thought someone had been drinking, so he went downstairs and got the spotlight, but was soon in bed asleep.] We usually don´t have any such disturbances in the night. Shortly after we heard the voice, I could hear a woman talking in the background as if she were consoling. I didn´t sense any urgency, although I could not sleep, something felt wrong, I eventually drifted back to sleep.
The next afternoon, as we got ready to travel to town to run some errands, Abuela stopped us in the road. She explained that last night our neighbor, Anastacio, was bad off and was calling to her husband for help. He was having a stroke. By the time her husband went to check, he had collapsed in the road, but was still conscious and talking. The neighbors carried him to her house, and he asked for prayer. She and the neighbors prayed for him for an hour until his nephew came to pick him up to take him to the hospital. When we asked why they didn´t they come get us, as we have the closest car in the neighborhood for such an emergency, they told us that they had “pena”. Today, Anastacio passed away in the hospital. His brain had hemorrhaged as they left the community.
We have asked ourselves so many questions, and we are still trying to make sense of all of this. We love our neighbors and have shared great times with them. They can come to us if they need something. So why now do they have “pena” to wake us in the middle of the night? As I keep reflecting on this, I know God has a plan for all of us, and now knowing Anastacio has passed makes me realize that his hour of prayer was more precious than having been closer in car to the hospital.
The very same day our neighbor had the stroke I saw him in passing. Although we have shared much time with his niece and her family, I only knew him mostly in passing. After passing him on the road and waving, I remember thinking that I have never invited him over to share a meal. The same evening he was gone. Life is too short. Don´t delay!
What areas in your life are you avoiding, or delaying to take action?
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:7
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. – Deuteronomy 31:8
