“You will never be completely at home again [in this life], because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” — Miriam Adeney
In 5 weeks I will be in Tanzania.
This thought has been hitting me harder and harder each day it seems. Its a crazy mix of being so excited I can hardly sleep, and also a time of mourning, knowing that there are many people I will be saying goodbye to for an indefinite amount of time.
Goodbyes have never been a strong suit of mine. Thinking back a couple weeks ago, I was up in Minnesota for Youth Encounter's homecoming celebration. What that means is it is the last day/celebration for the volunteer team members that Youth Encounter had just "sent out" for a year. One of the girls who served this past year shared a story of a host dad she had. When they were going to leave he had said goodbye but also said "If I don't see you again in this life, I surely will in the next." This was not the first time I had heard this but it hit me with deeper revelation than previously.
There are some people I will be saying goodbye to that I may not have the chance to see again in this life. And that can be a sad thought, but there is also the glorious promise that I will see them again some day. That should be reason to rejoice.
I find as my time in the States is winding down I want to cherish every moment I have with people. This leads me to thinking, why haven't I always cherished every moment. Time is such a valuable resource.
Cherish the moments you have. Be present. Love the one in front of you. Let them know they're loved. Let them know they are worth your time. Be present.
Until next time,
Mungu awabariki (God bless you)
In 5 weeks I will be in Tanzania.
This thought has been hitting me harder and harder each day it seems. Its a crazy mix of being so excited I can hardly sleep, and also a time of mourning, knowing that there are many people I will be saying goodbye to for an indefinite amount of time.
Goodbyes have never been a strong suit of mine. Thinking back a couple weeks ago, I was up in Minnesota for Youth Encounter's homecoming celebration. What that means is it is the last day/celebration for the volunteer team members that Youth Encounter had just "sent out" for a year. One of the girls who served this past year shared a story of a host dad she had. When they were going to leave he had said goodbye but also said "If I don't see you again in this life, I surely will in the next." This was not the first time I had heard this but it hit me with deeper revelation than previously.
There are some people I will be saying goodbye to that I may not have the chance to see again in this life. And that can be a sad thought, but there is also the glorious promise that I will see them again some day. That should be reason to rejoice.
I find as my time in the States is winding down I want to cherish every moment I have with people. This leads me to thinking, why haven't I always cherished every moment. Time is such a valuable resource.
Cherish the moments you have. Be present. Love the one in front of you. Let them know they're loved. Let them know they are worth your time. Be present.
Until next time,
Mungu awabariki (God bless you)