The Beauty of Routine

May 04, 2023

If you have children, you know how routines lead to rest. I don’t mean a lazy kind of rest. But a rest that is efficient, a rest that is found even amidst busy days.

Times of adjustment are hard exactly because they lack routine. The absence of that (somewhat relative) certainty of how days should go provokes our mind processors to reprioritize the tasks at hand tirelessly.

And I mentioned children because they can get fussy when things don’t happen as expected. I speak in general.

Of course, our children are little superheroes that don’t get affected by that.

But as May arrives, we feel like life is getting into a routine.

A crazy and busy one, to be sure. But a routine nonetheless.

Discipleship Routines

We have been building meaningful discipleship relationships with students and fellow church members. This is a high priority for any Christian on mission—and I mean to include everyone who is in Christ here. We are thankful for these opportunities.

We are particularly happy to see our bond growing with the students placed under our care group in the seminary. Meeting them collectively and individually has been a joy for Bella and me, Lucas.

At our local church, meeting with our (30-people-ish, not-so-)small group has provided a fertile context for us to grow in trust and friendship with some fellow church members. Last Friday, I had the opportunity to lead our devotional time together—something that I love doing in that conversational, personal context.

Strategic Routines

Within our routines, I’ve been making it a priority to find strategic partnerships that would allow our teaching influence to reach different parts of Brazil.

And God has granted us to find many good connections in key places. In April, I met with directors and coordinators of at least five different schools and seminaries to establish some kind of cooperation.

Most of these will allow me to teach modular courses, reaching students from all regions of Brazil: South, Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, and North.

I hope not only that I can be a faithful minister in those contexts but that I will learn more about the various human challenges Brazilians face in all corners of our continental-sized land. I believe that would make me a better counselor and improve my counseling teaching for Brazil.

I’m also glad to see many of these institutions willing to structure master’s programs in biblical counseling. Churches are seeing how it is needed. Pastors and leaders are seeking training. And many organizations are willing to offer it with some help. I see some exciting days ahead!