I suppose in my mind this journey is about what I am doing... "Missionary Teaching"... Since it's summer - well, cheers to being a teacher!
Being back in Atlanta, (I use this phrase as opposed to the word 'home' as it has an entirely different meaning that I will come back to) it's been a summer... and a busy one at that. My gorgeous sister got married!
I got to see and spend time with friends and family... many of whom I hadn't even seen in years! (at least a minimum of a year at that!)
As expected, many people have been curious about what I've been doing... what it's like... what's my plan... when am I coming home?
These seem like such simple questions, but they have truly boggled my mind.
One of the first tasks for myself once returning was to find the answer to the unavoidable question:
"What are you doing there?..."
As much as I wanted to put into words the story of what brought me to Venezuela, the story that is keeping me there, the story that is leading me to wherever it is that I am going... The only answer that makes any sense is the answer to an entirely different question. It's not at all about "What am I doing?" - for truly, I have done nothing. The only answer I have is the purpose of the work that is being done within me - so the question is not 'what am I doing?' but rather 'what is being done in me?' For that is, and has been, and always will be my journey. What I am doing is simply loving the work that is being done in me.
So as I sit here and contemplate this idea of "home" that has constantly been in the forefront of my mind - "Where is Home?" I am reminded that I have always had the answer. My home is Atlanta, Georgia. My home is Boston, Massachusetts. My home is Dublin, Ireland. My home is Caracas, Venezuela. My home is everywhere in this world, because my sense of being home is nothing that can be found here.
I always have been and always will be... Home.
1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12 Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12 Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
his ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
not one of them is broken!
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
not one of them is broken!
21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
-Psalm 34
