Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Dumbfounded (02/20/25)
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TITLE: The Nomination | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
02/21/25 -
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In 1984 positions to serve on the Ministerial Board were open. My name was nominated. “What? I don’t qualify for this position,” I whispered to myself. “God there must be a mistake. Who am I?”
"Just trust me," the Voice whispered.
Although dumbfounded at this nomination, I quieted my beating heart with the thought that this was only a nomination. There was no way I would be elected. After all, my only qualifications for such a position was that I was a pastor’s wife, had one semester at Moody Bible Institute and did some online courses with Dallas Theological Seminary. Not a very impressive resume to serve on this prestigious board. I could relax.
The vote was taken and the results were in. I held my breath as they read off the names of the three people who would serve on this board. Nancy, James and…..yep you guessed it….Marilyn.
Really? All these people attending this conference voted for me? They don’t even know me. Is this really happening?
"Just trust me," the Voice said again.
I would have to attend two meetings a year in Minneapolis and I HATED to fly.
The weekend of my first meeting arrived. My husband took me to Newark airport. I boarded a plane that I thought for certain would never make it to Chicago. It was a smaller commuter plane and the plane rattled and shook as we took our flight. My knuckles were white from holding the armrest so tightly; my heart beating a mile-a-minute. I reminded myself that God was laughing at my predicament. I had to smile too as I realized God had called me to this position, God would take care of me AND God was testing my faith in Him.
I relaxed and prided myself that I learned this faith lesson well.
“Pride goes before the fall” so Solomon said, and God whispered.
When I arrived at O’Hare I had an hour layover. I deboarded the plane and walked to my new terminal to wait until my plane left. I felt pleased that I found the terminal without complications. I had my Starbucks in hand, found an empty seat, and sat to wait until boarding time. I watched the people walk by while sipping my coffee. (I love to people watch). I kept my eye on the Flight Information Display System to see when my plane was scheduled to leave and if it was on time.
I watched.
And watched.
Dumbstruck I wondered why my plane’s number did not show. Was it late in arriving? “Father, what is happening here?” I questioned. It was getting close to the time my plane should have taken off.
Actually in about twenty minutes it would leave.
What to do? I went to the counter and asked the attendant when flight number 817 would arrive so I could board.
“Well, honey,” the attendant smiled at me and said. “That plane leaves from Terminal 1 and you are in Terminal 2. It will be leaving in about fifteen minutes so if you want to get on that plane you better hustle over to the right terminal and pray that you make it in time. Go down this aisle and you will find it.”
“What? I guess I looked at my ticket wrong. Thank you,” and with those words I took off running to Terminal 1.
Thankfully the new Terminal was an easy jog to get to. I arrived, out of breath, and handed the attendant my ticket for boarding.
“You made it just in time,” she said. “I was just about to close the doors.”
Safely in my seat, I breathed a sigh of relief as I buckled in for the short trip to Minneapolis. What an adventure this first trip brought. I prayed not every trip I made would be like this, however, I was also delighted to know that God was with me in the journey even if it did bring me some surprises along the way.
Why was I elected to this board you might ask? James 1:3 has the answer - “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
God was working on me and my faith.
Story is non-fiction
Scripture from LB and NLT
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