i have been stretched!
sometimes it hurt.
but in time i could feel the strength building.
God revealed more of Himself to me,
when i stepped out into the unknown
...as He always does.
it was more majestic than i could ever imagine.
He is beautiful, glorious.
the work of the Spirit was so evident where i journeyed.
while i journey.
it is beautiful, glorious.
one evening in Zhaojue, i was playing soccer in the field nestled between our living quarters and our classrooms.
exhausted after all the activities, yet thankful for a day well-invested.
running barefoot through a carpet of lush, green grass.
Kim, thoughtful as always, brought out a tray of watermelon slices for us.
hot and thirsty, we eagerly grabbed a piece each and bit in, tasting the juicy sweetness, letting it slide down our throats.
after two or three slices, i had cooled down enough to feel & enjoy the light breeze on my skin.
i turned around in the middle of the field to face the empty half, deserted by the other watermelon-seekers: my fellow teachers, 2 of our young students, and one other guy who was hanging around the Youth Center.
i heard their laughter and chatter behind me.
for once, the wind was blowing against our neighbour, the iron factory.
so i inhaled deeply, with juice still dripping down my face, and took in breath after breath of fresh mountain air.
in that moment, the Creator whispered in my ear a phrase that rang so true:
"This is Life!"
it was brief; it was fleeting.
it was a reminder i will never forget.
not because of the grass, the fruit, the breeze, the laughter, the air, the day's end.
but because of His presence.
what does it mean to truly be able to rest in His love, in His peace, in His joy?
to know that His grace covers you, His mercy is upon you, His might is on your side?
what i would give to share that assurance with all who cross my path.
what would you give?
do you know?
i love them. i miss them. i learn so much from them. i thank the Lord for them.
now the world is spinning back at its normal pace.
my summer workplace. my co-workers. my boss. my friends. what a time it has been with you, 3 summers of blessings. goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.
h2o, CCCO, prayer meetings, summer outings. precious encounters, struggles and triumphs, time to leave again.
new house, new housemates, same landlord. new side of landlord.
new year, new program, new classmates, new perspectives, new challenges.
my mind explodes. it's awesome.
international students, global villages, English tutoring, Mandarin learning, guitar lessons, baking cakes, & pulse.
my brother, here with me! like many first-years, he faces important struggles. remember him.
in search of something to parch an unrelenting thirst for deep teaching through the Word.
my grandma, soon to leave this world. my family, not all of whom are close to Him.
so many people. so many doors.
this is all i can say for now.
words seem inadequate. or at least, i'm finding myself at a loss for words...
time is limited. Life is precious.
He is good.
4 comments:
what a beautiful post!
oh, what would it be like to live life as God intended everyday? pure, uncontainable joy.
now the question is: is living that life possible when we're back to the "here", back home, back from the other country where things were fresh & different?
Thanks for that carman! You're writing is beautiful and totally touched all my senses. Also brought me back to my own experiences of feeling God's presence and hearing His voice =)
*carmen! hahaha sorry I know someone else who spells it 'carman' ^^;;
i echo what's been said above...:)
such good things to reflect on especially during this busy time, when we often lose sight of His blessings and of how He has fulfilled His promises so incredibly before!
PS i miss u. *hug*
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