If there’s one thing the Covid-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear it’s that none of us are fully in control of our lives. What we can control, though, are our choices. And those choices ultimately determine the story of our lives.
Several years ago, I coined a word that conveys what I’m talking about here. The word is “serendestiny”—a combination of the words serendipity and destiny. Webster defines serendipity as “the phenomenon of experiencing things not anticipated or sought for, usually pleasant surprises.” I define serendestiny as “the phenomenon of discovering one’s destiny by responding with faith and obedience to God-ordained circumstances not anticipated or sought for.”
Now our own serendestiny moments may not be as dramatic as these, but they’re no less real, and no less central to the unfolding of God’s plans for us. I’m convinced, in fact, that fulfilling our God-given destinies often has less to do with our pursuit of pre-conceived plans than our response to circumstances we didn’t anticipate or seek for—circumstances beyond our control.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I’ve seen many inspiring examples of people responding to their serendestiny moments with extraordinary faith and obedience. Like the restaurant owner in New York, a personal friend and Forward Edge partner, who’s been delivering meals to non-profits that serve the poor and needy. Like our Forward Edge partners in other countries preparing and distributing food parcels to the families of children in their programs. And like the girls at Villa Esperanza, our home for at-risk girls in Nicaragua, making masks for the families of Villa staff and others in the local community.
But perhaps the easiest way to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic with faith and obedience is to simply reach out to people God puts on your heart. In the case of Forward Edge, our headquarters staff has been calling people on our mailing list—just to ask how they’re doing and how we can pray for them. We also share their prayer requests at our daily Zoom-call prayer meetings. This simple, caring gesture, something any of us can do, has proven to be deeply meaningful—not only for the person receiving the call, but the staff member making it.
I believe God has opened “a window of grace” in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic for the deepening of relationships. That’s why I want to encourage you to think of one person every day you can reach out to, just to see how they’re doing, and how you can pray for them. We may not be able to control the challenging circumstances we all find ourselves in these days, but we can experience this as a serendestiny moment—as a unique opportunity to reconnect with God and one another in ways that might not otherwise have been possible.
Someone Thought of Me? Did you know that a simple note can change the trajectory of a child’s life? It’s true! For children living in poverty, life is challenging and filled with hardships. They may feel overlooked, forgotten, and alone. But when they receive a note, it shows that they
When you want something so badly – when you Love it, with a capital L – you’ll do anything to get it. Most of us can remember feeling like this at some point in our lives, whether it was a toy, a pet, a first car or a first love.
One of Forward Edge’s most dearly held values is the importance of relationships. And what better way has God given us to bond with others than over a table of good food. Culture is often shared through food. Sharing meals isn’t just about filling our stomachs—it’s about connection over stories,
Tim Ainley, CEO of Forward Edge, recently shared an inspiring message at a graduation commencement ceremony that is a timely and impactful message for us all. But, especially for recent graduates, young adults, and teens, these words could be the guiding principles you need as you step into a world
8 yrs. old
Entered the program: April 2022
Precious lives with her mother and older brother in a rented one-room wood house that has electricity and a cement floor. They purchase water from a neighbor. They have a pit latrine that is in good condition.
Precious’s mother works as a casual laborer when she can find work. Precious’s father was an alcoholic and was abusive, and her mother was forced to flee with the children when Precious was 2 years old. It is difficult for her mother to provide for their needs, especially school fees for both children.
