I am firmly perched on top of my suitcase in
the hallway of the train to Cologne. It’s a challenge to find an empty seat
among the myriad of passengers, and not having a seat reservation makes it even
more challenging. So I am grateful for this little space in the hallway that fits
my suitcase with me on top. Outside dusk is coming quickly and it’s a reminder
that autumn is really here. The trees are bare and it hailed today, so I am
already anticipating spring and summer again.
I am on a train. On my way to Cologne, Germany
to teach on a DTS about justice. A challenging subject, but when seen in the light
of God, a hope-filled subject.
Heart moved.
Just this week my heart was again so deeply
moved as I was working with the women. I was moved by hearing the many plans
one of them has and I hope that she never has to return to a window. I was
moved by how one of them felt God so near as we prayed. And I was moved by the
reality of how Jesus is shown through who we are and how that speaks louder than
any words.
Seeing the light in their faces as they left our
time of fellowship to go home or to work was priceless. That is life! That is
what it should be like most of the time and not just once in a while.
Changes.
Time is going so quickly and in just three
months I’ll be in Brazil doing last minute preparations for Shine. It’s seems
so near, yet there is much to do before I get there. Transition. Yet again I am
in a time of transition; which to me has come to mean “the time where you are
living in the now, yet having to think about the future without losing
connection with the present”. I guess the challenge is to be fully present
where I am. Which right now is on a train.
Thankfulness.
I was almost getting a bit frustrated as we
were pushing ourselves through the narrow corridors of the train searching for
a seat. Well, I was a wee bit frustrated, but then I decided I didn’t want to
focus on that. Some friends are doing a “war on grumbling” thing. I am not
quite sure what it is, but I keep reading facebook posts with thankfulness and #warongrumbling,
so I figure it’s some kind of decision to not grumble but be thankful. I want
to be thankful. I want my heart to overflow with so much thankfulness there is
no more space for any grumbling or complaining. Even the complaining that is
nicely wrapped as “venting” or “justified frustration”. Let’s face it, even if
it’s understandable, carrying it in my heart won’t do anyone any good, least of
all me. And it most certainly won’t change what caused it in the first place.
And so I chose thankfulness today. Thankful for
a suitcase to sit on. Thankful for life. Thankful for the extra hot doppio
latte from Julia’s as I was waiting
for the train. Thankful.
Expectations.
It’s almost dark outside. The train seems to be
slowing down for another station maybe, and I am finishing up this blog post. I
am wondering what this week will hold. Wondering what God will speak to my
heart as I share my heart with these DTS students. Desiring it to be a week
full of peace and rest in the midst of activity.
And so I set my heart towards peace and rest,
trusting that God is in control of all things.