I remember in my ESL (English as a Second Language) classes years ago, that a discussion came up about the difference between "house" and "home". For my students it was a foreign concept to differentiate between the two. After a few minutes of pondering an easy English explanation, I drew two pictures on the white board. The first was of the typical Eastern European block apartment buildings. Underneath that picture, the word "house" was written in bold black letters. In the second picture, I drew a family of smiling stick figures. This was my explanation of home.
I know that my crude family drawing cannot possibly define the English word for home, but I wanted my students to see the difference between location and relationship. When Chip and I landed in Moldova a couple of weeks ago, home, and all the feelings that define it, filled my heart and mind to overflowing. We no longer have a house here. Our property now resides in America. Our physical things all belong to someone else, or have been shipped back to America months ago. The only ties that remain are the relationships that our family built. These relationships have survived separation, poor communication, and the occasional negligence that comes with being so far away. Home is so much more than family. Home is love.
Knowing that I can travel half-way around the world and still find home brings me a joy and peace that is virtually tangible. A house is a location, but a home travels with me wherever I go. It's so good to be home!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Butterflies, Boxes and Bare Walls
It's here! The week I've been waiting for and dreading all at the same time has finally arrived. It's moving week, and my life feels, quite honestly, upside down. As I laid my head on my pillow last night, I couldn't help but notice the fluttering in my stomach. Why the butterflies have chosen to plague me at night, I'm not quite certain; but I do know that they are just a symbol of what's going on inside my heart of hearts.
Flutterings of anticipation are probably the largest group of butterflies living inside me these days. I'm overjoyed at the prospect of what the future holds for our ministry. Chip and I are both eager to see what new mission opportunities lie ahead for Gateway Global Missions, and we're excited to be a part of that. I greatly anticipate teaching at GCC and working with the college kids there. This anticipation definitely plays a major role in my night time ponderings.
There's also another type of fluttering that I almost hate to admit resides inside of me: the mystery of new beginnings. These flutterings will quickly turn into anxiety if I think on them long enough. Thankfully, God has given me many Scriptures to remind me that we are in this together. Anxiety will do nothing to help me or my family transition from one ending to a new beginning. Oh, but the unfamiliarity of it all! So many new faces to meet, new friends to make, new walls to decorate...new, new, NEW! What I wouldn't give for a little bit of old amongst all the new.
As I write I'm reminded that my boxes that line the garage are full of the old I so desperately want to carry with me. Memories aren't stored in boxes and hung on walls, but the reminders of those memories are. As we load the moving truck tomorrow, I can calmly tell my butterflies to take a nap, because the memories we've made over the years will continue with us, no matter where the truck eventually stops. Friends from around the world will be moving with me, tucked away in a picture or a momento. Somehow, the newness of Thursday will become part of the old that makes up this family, and once again I'll put my butterflies to rest.
Sweet dreams!
Flutterings of anticipation are probably the largest group of butterflies living inside me these days. I'm overjoyed at the prospect of what the future holds for our ministry. Chip and I are both eager to see what new mission opportunities lie ahead for Gateway Global Missions, and we're excited to be a part of that. I greatly anticipate teaching at GCC and working with the college kids there. This anticipation definitely plays a major role in my night time ponderings.
There's also another type of fluttering that I almost hate to admit resides inside of me: the mystery of new beginnings. These flutterings will quickly turn into anxiety if I think on them long enough. Thankfully, God has given me many Scriptures to remind me that we are in this together. Anxiety will do nothing to help me or my family transition from one ending to a new beginning. Oh, but the unfamiliarity of it all! So many new faces to meet, new friends to make, new walls to decorate...new, new, NEW! What I wouldn't give for a little bit of old amongst all the new.
As I write I'm reminded that my boxes that line the garage are full of the old I so desperately want to carry with me. Memories aren't stored in boxes and hung on walls, but the reminders of those memories are. As we load the moving truck tomorrow, I can calmly tell my butterflies to take a nap, because the memories we've made over the years will continue with us, no matter where the truck eventually stops. Friends from around the world will be moving with me, tucked away in a picture or a momento. Somehow, the newness of Thursday will become part of the old that makes up this family, and once again I'll put my butterflies to rest.
Sweet dreams!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Life Streamlined
A good friend let me know that my blog was a little busy by design. Although I hated to see the pretty dots go, a little streamlining didn't hurt too badly. The purpose of my blog is to have a place I can share my thoughts with friends. Dots or no dots, the point is for the blog to be easily read.
What else in my life needs streamlining? Simplifying? If I'm honest, probably more than I'd care to admit. I'm not a packrat. I like order. Often I choose simple over complex, but these days of packing for our move have revealed how much more I could shed and not miss it. I'm reminded of when Chip and I left for Moldova in 1998. We were young and didn't know better, so we eagerly (and happily!) packed our entire household into four large 70 lb bags and headed halfway around the world to start a new life. Four bags. Talk about streamlining: we mastered it that day!
I could definitely stand a few less dots and frills today, as I look out my back door and see the mountain of boxes already collecting in my garage. I've come a long way from four suitcases. It happens so quickly--this accumilation of must haves and whatnots. The same could be said of our spiritual lives, too. How many times have I cleaned up shop, only to find my heart cluttered again with worries and cares. Oh, we can justify it by calling it concern or something else quite respectable, but when it comes down to it, it's simply extra. My spiritual purpose is glorifying my Father in heaven with all I say and do. Is that easily read, or are my extras making it difficult?
Streamlined, simplified, minimized. My life--both physical and spiritual--could use a little more of it! Thanks, Nancy!
What else in my life needs streamlining? Simplifying? If I'm honest, probably more than I'd care to admit. I'm not a packrat. I like order. Often I choose simple over complex, but these days of packing for our move have revealed how much more I could shed and not miss it. I'm reminded of when Chip and I left for Moldova in 1998. We were young and didn't know better, so we eagerly (and happily!) packed our entire household into four large 70 lb bags and headed halfway around the world to start a new life. Four bags. Talk about streamlining: we mastered it that day!
I could definitely stand a few less dots and frills today, as I look out my back door and see the mountain of boxes already collecting in my garage. I've come a long way from four suitcases. It happens so quickly--this accumilation of must haves and whatnots. The same could be said of our spiritual lives, too. How many times have I cleaned up shop, only to find my heart cluttered again with worries and cares. Oh, we can justify it by calling it concern or something else quite respectable, but when it comes down to it, it's simply extra. My spiritual purpose is glorifying my Father in heaven with all I say and do. Is that easily read, or are my extras making it difficult?
Streamlined, simplified, minimized. My life--both physical and spiritual--could use a little more of it! Thanks, Nancy!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Once upon a time
Don't you just love a good beginning? Every casual reader wants to find themselves hooked from page one--especially if the story is going to be a long one. Unfortunately, I could not find an amazing title to my very first blog. Without spending time hunting and pondering, I chose the famous ol' fairy tale words, "Once upon a time". Simply stated, that's how it all begins. Once upon a time, I was loved. Once upon a time, I met my Savior. Once upon a time, I became a wife and mother. Once upon a time, I left America, and once upon a time, I returned. I could go on and on, but consisely I'd like to say that without all these 'once upon a times', I wouldn't be who I am today. Life is kind-of like that, you know. A whole bunch of seemingly small happenings combine to mean more to us than we ever drempt possible. You soon realize chance encounters are actually divine ones. People you interact with become character builders, and problems become stepping stones in your journey of faith. I look forward to having a place to blog my thoughts and experiences, because somehow it may become a 'once upon a time' for someone else.
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