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!
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 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.
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.
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed