following Jesus is hard: The Journey

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Journey

Well January has come to an end and time ticks on. Yesterday was a low day and those come and go regularly. Last night just before bed Cindi heaved a big sigh and said, "I am so ready for this to be done". It gently breaks my heart to hear those words and to realize that the journey is not over yet and we still have a way to go.

But ... there is talk of the future in our house. We had a dinner out last night - the first in a long time - and it was nice to have a steak and a gentle conversation about "tomorrow" with my wife. Last weekend we had our grandchildren stay overnight for the first time and it was absolutely restorative in so many ways. Their parents ended up a bit stranded on a road trip and we were able to send help their way. We enjoy supporting 2 little waifs who live in a Nicaragua community where I devote some of my spare time yearly. We are helping our pseudo adopted son get his first car on the road and all of these things make us feel alive and engaged. These are the chapters of the journey that breathe life and hope into the mess. Can't believe the toll this has taken on Cindi's body and energy. Can't believe the toll it's taken on both of our hearts. This journey has tested our metal and in many ways has found us lacking but ... There is the love of our friends and family and the love of our God and that is enough to take the next step. What will tomorrow hold? Well, (with a deep sigh) I believe it will hold more of tha same and frankly, we are prepared for it.

This whole process has given us a new perspective of things around us for sure. Friends who are living elsewhere are missed more. Family who we may have taken for granted have become more precious. Setbacks are felt in deeper and more real ways. Life that is somewhat frivolous has been put in an honest perspective. This has been an opportunity to measure the worth of who we are, what we do, who we live beside and the God who holds our hand. We feel tired but blessed. We feel a deep need to pause and make sure we are really getting what we are being taught through this. This is a story and although we are not writing it, it is ours and we want to be able to tell it well, with integrity and honesty and to honour Him. So...on with the day...Pete

2 comments:

marvJanuary 31, 2013 at 5:08 AM
Friend, family are vital & important, yet solidarity isn't about walking someone else's path for them (living vicariously really doesn't equate with actually living through an experience). Its more about walking with them regardless of the path that is before them. Please know that the strength you find is multiplied as others find ways to identify with you for your need to have it. In odd and weird ways we are all in this life together if we have the eyes to see and the heart to break.
In Solidarity, Marv
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REALITY CHECK!

The church actually was never in the building. There were people in the building who were and still are discovering things about Jesus, singing songs to Him and connecting with each other for a moment but the reality is...the church has left the building and is still the church. If you're still in the building - time to get up and get out! Our world needs a group of people who will engage and love and serve others - not just ourselves. Families are breaking up and need support. People are entering poverty and need support. So many things are going wrong and need caring people to step in and engage, advocate, serve, give, make right and LOVE. Someone we know has already done that for the world and now it's time we pass it on and follow Him on the restoration path. That's me and that's you. Up for it?