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Thinking on a train.

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.

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