So I'm in the last days before I leave on the big adventure...the adventure that includes moving across the continent for a few months, and then moving across the world. I feel like that kind of adventure warrants an adjective like "big." The last few days at home include some stressful moments like packing (post about that to come soon) and saying goodbyes. It can get a little heavy...a little like "Am I really about to do this?"
I've left a few times in my life...all usually for good things like summer camp, college, a new job, living overseas, graduate school, etc. Donald Miller's book, Through Painted Deserts always gives me encouragement when I'm on the verge of leaving again. Here's what the intro has to say...
"And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter, some roses blooming out like children in a play. My hope is your story will be about changing, about getting something beautiful born inside you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out. I want to repeat one word for you: Leave. Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."
So here's to leaving again...and all the lessons that will come with it.
I've left a few times in my life...all usually for good things like summer camp, college, a new job, living overseas, graduate school, etc. Donald Miller's book, Through Painted Deserts always gives me encouragement when I'm on the verge of leaving again. Here's what the intro has to say...
"And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter, some roses blooming out like children in a play. My hope is your story will be about changing, about getting something beautiful born inside you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out. I want to repeat one word for you: Leave. Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."
So here's to leaving again...and all the lessons that will come with it.
