The time just seems to be flying as it usually does during the days of summer, but this time its different. The anticipation of leaving the country and being immersed in a new culture and work that will exciting, undoubtedly challenging, and moving is difficult to manage. Another difficulty is realizing how little time I have been able to spend with my family. I love them and I miss them. I have been trying to be productive and enjoying each day with its numerous graces, but sometimes I get lost in attempting to figure out what is coming next. What will the next few months look like? What will I be doing in a year? Where will I be?
Oye!
And then someone or something brings me back to present and says "Take a deep breath. The Lord is with you. Be still. Smile."
Patrick and I have been preparing for a retreat we are helping with about navigating through the many transitions of life. As we were preparing for a talk we are giving together (a challenge all its own ( : ) the sky grew dark and in true midwest thunderstorm fashion, the sky dumped water. We were driving at the time and it was one of those rains where the water falls in what seems like solid sheets...like fifty buckets of water are being poured on your windsheild alone. The entire road before becomes blurred in the wet, except for the intermittent swipes of the windsheild wipers. 
We realized in that moment that life, especially right now, is very much like driving in the pouring rain. We know what direction we are headed, but we can't see the road, except for those moments of intermittent clarity when God reveals just a bit of the plan. Moments of clarity to encourage us to continue to move forward and trust he knows the way. I believe that God works through all things and that everyday in large ways and moslty in small ways He has been present to me in moments of grace; in subtle reminders of His love.
Lead the way Lord.
1 comment:
Dearest Heather, Thought the following quote is beautiful and wanted to share it with you. "I'm a child of the age, a child of doubt and unbelief, and even, I'm certain, till the day they close the lid of my coffin. What terrible torment this thirst to believe has cost me and is still costing me, the stronger it becomes in my soul, the stronger are the arguments against it. And despite all this God sends me moments of great tranquility, moments during which I love and find I am loved by others. It was during such a moment that I formed within myself a symbol of faith in which all is clear and sacred for me. The symbol is very simple, and here is what it is: to believe that there is nothing more beautiful, more profound, more sympathetic, more reasonable, more courageous, and more perfect than Christ; and there not only isn't, but I tell myself with a jealous love, there cannot be. More than that -- if someone succeeded in proving to me that Christ was outside the truth, and if, indeed, the truth was outside Christ, I would sooner remain with Christ than with the truth." -- Dostoevsky
You are very much loved and cherished. With our love and big hugs, yours truly - Aunt Marianne ...and Uncle Jeff too!
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