Skip to main content

The joy of the journey.

I have such joy and peace. And I am enjoying the journey... I guess it’s partly to do with knowing which direction I am headed. But even more, I am grateful that I’ve had time to learn to appreciate the journey. Learn that even when I’m not seeing, I am still headed somewhere.

Today I was walking on the beach and enjoying it so much. I wasn’t really headed anywhere in particular. I was on a walk and it was more my availability of time rather than a destination that determined where I went. I need to appreciate life the same way, and want to learn even more how to. Learn to look around in the now and appreciate the sound of the waves and the different textures I am walking on. Learn how to walk effortlessly from stone to stone, and choose the harder sandy parts to go quickly and the looser sand to build strength. Life is like a walk on the beach... kind of.

I’ve had such a good week enjoying joy and peace and family and doing life here in Norway again. And even as I am appreciating the now, I look ahead. Look ahead to going back to Fortaleza, Brazil for a few months. As I opened the word document I write my blog, the beginning of it caught my eye. It was about four and half years ago that I started to blog to process my leaving Brazil, and I just kept going. And now I get to go back for an extended visit.

I feel such excitement about it. Excitement to see what God has done and is doing. Excitement to see people again. Excitement to just go and be available to continue being a friend of Jesus in that place.

And so I am writing with expectancy in my heart. It is a joy to be on this journey... and the peace of being on the right path is priceless!

Popular posts from this blog

Getting to know the local culture.

Life is a strange thing. Last week went…not much happened, and then it was over. The weekend was quite calm without too many wild and exciting things happening. Except, of course, a wee outing to watch the National Championship for Veteran Ploughing. Now, like me, you might be sadly lacking an understanding of what this actually means. So I am delighted to be able to enlighten you in this respect. It’s basically (for the “farm-language-illiterate” like myself) a competition where you use old (hence the name “veteran”) tractors and ploughs, and plough up a stretch of field which is then evaluated and the one scoring the highest sum (accuracy, depth, how well the soil is turned is all given points) wins. I must admit that this information I got by eavesdropping on a conversation next to me where a man was explaining to some of my friends how it all works. So that was a fun adventure….although we only stayed for a bit. What is sort of occupying my mind at present is my upcoming travel abr...

Taking in the familiar and a heart connected.

Amsterdam. It still has that muggy feeling in Summer, and a constant flow of people which if you stop to think about it, it's quite amazing that there would even be space to accommodate them all. But then I guess they are not all staying. Just passing through on their way to or from somewhere. It's always good for the heart to visit somewhere that was once home. The familiarity of streets and customs makes it easier to embrace what might be new as well as the joy of being reacquainted with old friends. Friends. So many of them to be found in this city, ready with hugs and good words that are uttered when seeing someone who was away again. Friendship. A treasure that cannot be bought. Cobblestones trodden by many, including myself. Sitting on a bench. Praying. Remembering the first time I stumbled upon this area lined with windows with red lights and curtains. An area which has come to represent no longer windows, but people to me. Some still behind a window. Others who have ...

Small moments that mean a lot

Walking home on the crunchy snow that lights up a December evening,  I felt so thankful. The revelation that fellowship and being together is the best gift you can give someone, and realising that although it might seem small, it can turn into something big when a person feels seen and valued.  Yesterday I helped out with a crafts workshop for a group of lovely women volunteering for Crux where I worked before (well, in all honesty: they were making angels while I ate Christmas cookies, Quality Street chocolate, and chatted). I love walking alongside people in conversation, and realise sharing life for 2 hours can last so much longer in value and experience.  This evening we had our Christmas dinner for volunteers and people who are part of my current job. It was a delightful evening with many nations gathered around the same table…. eating the same food… and for a few hours creating a small fellowship moment that will become a good memory for the future. Often in my job ...