Preponderances

My last days in Kodai were somewhat of a blur, as might be expected.  Whirlwind is kind of my style. Hence, I left in a bit of a rush (surprise!) such that the taxi driver (the same one who brought me up the mountain some 3 ½ months ago!) graciously brought me back to retrieve my green shopping bag from market which had my camera and, I thought, my documents for return. Turns out, the librarian found them and mailed them to me the following day (Praise the Lord, they just arrived!). Obviously, my mind was a bit scattered that last day. Everything that was going on I was trying to process and prepare for re-entry and ensure that I was leaving on a good note.

I have yet to understand the music of that mountain and how my guest playing didn’t disturb the symphony too much, although, I wouldn’t want it to just be null and void, either. I don’t necessarily “march to the beat of my own drum,” but it’s hard to realize that I will be another to walk through the “revolving door” I wrote about upon return. It is true, on both ends, this time becomes a memory suddenly distant, hopefully not altogether wiped clear. True as well, is the impact which lives have on one another and that difficulties have in shaping us (as Christians, into the image of Christ—how thrilling!). As I read this morning, life is all about developing character, often through suffering rather than plush living, because that is what we can take with us through to eternity. In this way, I recognize that maybe it is alright to admit the difficulties and the ways that I struggled this semester because, perhaps, no, certainly, I grew in ways I never anticipated and must now apply all of this to a completely different reality, yet reality, all the same.

People tend to speak of getting into the “real world” more and more frequently as we prepare to depart from the “Wheaton bubble.” The majority of the students here (and people in any “bubble”) have gone in and out of this community over the years, and the world is continually more “globalized,” as we all well know. This has always been a pet peeve of mine, people not living their life in reality or recognizing that this is real life. “Remember, wherever you go, there you are,” or, as my youth pastor used to remind us, “The youth are not ‘the future of the church,’ they are an active part of it.” 

C.S. Lewis’ perspective struck me particularly accurately this morning (living with one’s “back to the engine” as society accelerates to who knows where). “The great thing is to be found at one’s post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years.”  

This is what I have thought yet not been able to formulate so eloquently. Live for today “specializing in the past” in light of eternity. The great balancing act we call life in search of the genuine. Even if we have to go from bubble to bubble.  Perhaps this bubble travel still allows us to piece together parts of the bigger picture in light of true reality and God’s design. Like my host dad in Costa Rica reminded me, the view of the earth from the moon is quite different; looking back at from whence you came from where you are is a difficult act, but essential to your going back having grown.

This song has been periodically stuck in my head over the last couple of months (rotating with Lazy-- “Today I don’t feel like doin’ anything . . .”—thanks to the girls at the interdorm dance competition and my adjustment to American culture…): Hillsong’s “You’ll Come”

I have decided, I have resolved
To wait upon you, Lord.
My rock and redeemer shall not be moved.
I’ll wait upon you, Lord!

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us.
As certain as the dawn appears . . .

You'll come.

Let your glory fall as you respond to us.
Spirit, reign. Flood our hearts with holy fire again

We are not shaken we are not moved;
We wait upon you Lord.
Our Mighty deliverer, my triumph and truth--
I'll wait upon you, Lord.

You'll come.

Let your glory fall as you respond to us.

Come and fill our thirsty hearts again, you’ll come. You’ll come.

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

For the more bullet-oriented folk: Last days in Kodai included (in no particular order):

Masala tea masala tea masala tea

Funny conversations with shop owners in gathering gifts (some of which I can’t 

find, now …. : [)

Mountain beauty—no rain my last week! (not that rain isn’t good)

Walks and runs up in the hills or down around Ganga and the lake

Family dinner at the Morrison’s and a little party with the dorm kids at Janice’s with the thought-out and obvious gifts from my students that they had been not-so-subtly hinting at throughout the week

Church at the chapel

Last days teaching and student scenes for Number the Stars

Lots of hugs and beautiful farewells ( I hope Beth sends me her little speech from assembly)
Rohaan: Can the boys get a group hug, too?! (girls their age still have cooties)

Last dinner with the basketball team at Aby’s

Prayer with men and women of God who I cherish

Compiling everything for Wheaton

Cooking dinner at a friend’s house—adventures of improvising and nearly poisoning our neighbor

Haircut and time with families we’ll miss

Packing L

Mini tour of Mumbai and the Indian reality once again because I had to take a taxi through Mumbai to the international airport from the domestic (mad at myself for getting ripped off because the men who “helped” with my luggage saw my larger bills and pretty much took them straight from my wallet; guess they needed it more!)

Interesting people on the planes, discussing the world and being confused for being Norwegian with a very American accent.

Back in the U.S.A.

Picked up by church family at the airport and welcomed by fall leaves. Ahh.

Love from friends and family who understand.

Church. Worship.

Visiting people and hearing about life.

Assignments bogging me down. Boo. But great to complete!

Education department/fellow student teachers. So great. Including dinner with the other student teachers who were overseas at our professor’s house for Swedish pancakes. Wow.

Run around little Jesse with my uncle and our adventure with our new, independent friend (dog)

Thanksgiving!! Praise the Lord for this indescribable gift (and those we can describe)

Family. And friends.

Soup and fruit and vegetables. Yum.

Sleep. Organizing.

Remembering I can’t “get it all together,” and that’s not even the goal.

Some of my postcards are just arriving in the states on my tail baha

Etc. etc. etc.

It’s December!!!

Honestly, it’s more strange this week than it was the first couple of weeks being back. It might be the throes of culture shock, or it could just be old insecurities or uncertainties creeping up and assaulting me. Probably a little of both (or a lot of both, since I’m dramatic).

Apparently, I should have been more careful or glowing in my first reports upon getting back (embrace the autumn leaves, jet-lag and confusion aside). Turns out, as we well know, people tend to latch onto the negatives. As the Spirit indwells us, our entire perspective changes—be transformed by the renewing of your mind—a large order in this last part of senior year of college—then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is: His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So that you know: I love Kodai, the mountain and the people there. It is gorgeous and incredibly quirky. I miss it.