God’s Plans: Not What I Had In Mind, But I Like It
Reflection on October 7th YMCA Holy Land Tour by Sabrina Osse, Senior Program Director with YMCA of Middle Tennessee
Saturday, October 7, 2023 is a day that I don’t think I will ever forget.
This was supposed to be the day I was slated to begin a 10-day learning and relationship-building experience in the Holy Land with YMCA colleagues.
However, as we all know, October 7th is the day that has been documented as the start of the 2023 war/conflict between Israel and Palestine.
I'll take a look around
There's something to be grateful
Something to be grateful for
It's waiting to be found
Underneath the surface
Everything I'm searching for
(Grateful For - song by Natalie Layne)
In the months prior to this trip, I had a few apprehensions.
See, I was the only member of the 5-person team who was not connected to, or had a previous working relationship with, the other team members.
Being from Nashville TN while everyone else was from the Fort Wayne IN area, in my mind, presented a few setbacks. Still, I was not going to let that stop me from traveling thousands of miles to learn more about – and spend time with – our international partners.
After all, this is what I wanted….to travel and serve with my current organization on a more global level.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”
From the moment we stepped off the plane in Tel Aviv until the day we boarded the plane heading back to the States, our plans were constantly changing.
It’s as if God was telling us, “You thought you were coming to explore the land and see different sights; but jokes on you…My plan is better! I’m planting you right here in this place that you thought would be a 2-hour visit later in the week. Well, for the next 6 days, I’m planting you here and I need you to Lean In!”
To Lean In means to accept the challenge of doing something and try hard to do it successfully.
And that’s just what the team did.
Our days were filled with listening to individuals who desperately wanted to get home, smiling and providing unspoken comfort to those who needed it most, and praying with several and reassuring them that it was all going to work out in their favor.
We were fortunate to hear first-hand accounts from those who grew up in the area and we were even able to get a personal tour of part of the City from one of the individuals.
The evenings were a time for us (the 5 in our group) to debrief and reflect on the day. It was during these still, evening moments that I was able to laugh WITH God and say, “This isn’t what I had in mind for this trip; but I like it. Have your way!”
And here we are today, almost exactly 2 months later and I’m still Leaning In.
Every day I’m presented with decision-making situations, and as a result of my time in the Holy Land with people who truly have a servant’s heart, this is how I choose to proceed:
DO IT AFRAID
The worst that could happen is you learn. Although I wasn't scared per se to travel to another country with individuals whom I didn’t know (outside of Zoom calls), I did have apprehensions. What if they didn’t talk to me? What if no one appreciated my soft, reserved nature? What if I didn’t understand their Fort Wayne-ish humor? If I had given in to my reservations, I would not have met the 4 wonderful individuals that I now lovingly refer to as the “Fearless Fort Wayne 4.”
SELF-EDUCATION IS KEY! Read and study to get a better and clearer understanding.
I have never been a history buff and all throughout high school, history and social studies were always my least favorite subjects. But after receiving recommendations from others, I have read and studied SO much – in regards to historical context – in the past 2 months than I have all year…and I’m actually enjoying it. Knowing what happened in the past, better equips me to deal with and understand what’s occurring in the present day.
INTENTIONALLY SHOW COMPASSION, EMPATHY, AND KINDNESS
It’s easy to smile and say “how are you?” But it takes a little more effort to stick around and listen for the heart drop… that moment when someone gives you a peek into their heart. You’d be surprised how many people are longing to find someone who genuinely cares. Maybe that someone is you? For years, my prayer has been “fill me with divine appointments to love others.”
Couldn't find it in me
But I found it in You
I'm learning to see
'Cause You're teaching me to
Take a look around
There's something to be grateful
Something to be grateful
Something to be grateful for
(Grateful For - song by Natalie Layne)
This trip was like no other international service opportunity that I’ve been on.
The experience helped to shape how I’ve chosen to carry out the rest of my days… both in my professional and personal life.
I’m forever grateful for the opportunity; grateful for the friendships built; and most importantly, grateful for what’s to come as a result of the experience.
A comment from Fadi Suidan, CEO of Jerusalem International YMCA:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Nothing pleases me more than reading your reflections during your visit in October this year, and it gives me greater pleasure to write back my take on the team's reflections.
As the CEO of the Jerusalem International YMCA, I am profoundly moved by Sabrina's reflections on her unexpected journey in the Holy Land, particularly on the day that marked the beginning of the (we stopped counting) conflict. Sabrina and her team's visit, initially planned as a get to know the global Y tour, evolved into an extraordinary experience of deep human connection and spiritual growth amidst unforeseen circumstances.
Sabrina's narrative eloquently captures the essence of what we, at the Jerusalem International YMCA, strive to embody - fostering understanding, peace, and unity in the midst of diversity and conflict. Her ability to lean into the situation, embracing the challenges and uncertainties, is a powerful testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit.
Her reflections on the importance of self-education, compassion, empathy, and kindness align perfectly with our core values. These qualities are essential in our ongoing efforts to bridge cultural and historical divides, and to promote dialogue and understanding in a region often marked by conflict and unimaginable loss of life.
Moreover, Sabrina's experience underscores the transformative power of international service. It is not just about the work done or the sights seen, but the profound personal and collective growth that occurs when individuals step out of their comfort zones and engage with unfamiliar environments and communities, which is what onPrinciple is doing.
We are grateful to have hosted Sabrina and her team during such a pivotal moment. Their response to the unexpected circumstances, their willingness to serve and learn in the midst of adversity, and their reflections post-visit, are sources of inspiration for us all. We look forward to fostering more such meaningful exchanges in the future, but under more peaceful circumstances, believing that every encounter is a step towards a more understanding, peaceful and sustainable world.
Peace,
Fadi