On a journey...

Debrief has been completed, final newsletter has been sent out, and thank yous to supporters have been posted. I am moving into my apartment and starting a new job in a few days. It feels like I am definitely coming to the end of this stage of transition and stepping into a new season in life. It’s strange and surreal. The pile of things yet to pack and boxes ready to be moved are a good visual of how the next few days and weeks feel a little bit like a mountain ready to be faced and conquered. Yet I can finally see the end of it. I signed my rental contract yesterday and am ready to make my apartment a home for the next while. Tomorrow will be a busy day packing, but a good day in anticipation of finally being able to unpack and actually have a kitchen, lounge, and bedroom as my living space and be able to create a space for my belongings (which would have been much more numerous had I not been living abroad for so long). The weeks that have passed have been quite emotion...

I am sitting here in a reasonably comfy and very stylish chair in the business lounge at Newark airport. Thanks to businessmen not doing a much business in the Summer, my inferior silver star alliance card gives me access to this little retreat from the general airport area. A lovely salad bar, free food and drink, good quality Earl Grey and free WiFi; just what is needed when you have many many hours of layover. Coming into the lounge it was almost empty, but now it’s filled up. I am struck by how most of the people are my people. The volume is comfortable and everyone is considerate and contained. I love loud and colourful Americans, but it’s funny how a mere airport lounge can give you a little glimpse into the ways of Scandinavian culture. I leave Kansas City feeling rested. I leave feeling so blessed by good friends and lots of good quality time. This time has been a gift. There were moments when I wondered what the purpose of the time even was, but I look back and realise th...

Most big change usually doesn’t happen from one day to the next. Most often it has a gradual component to it which allows our hearts and minds to come into alignment with what is happening. Yet, even if there is plenty of time to get used to the idea of change and transition, it still seems daunting and different. And some parts of it you can’t know until you are in the midst of it. I am sitting here looking out the window of my friend’s house onto her back garden. Outside it’s hot, inside the air conditioning creates a comfortable temperature which I am thankful for. My time here in Kansas City is quickly drawing to an end. It’s been so good. It’s been such a gift to in a sense press the “pause” button on decisions and plans and transitions, and just be. Only that. “Be”. Not easy when the past years have been so hectic, involving running hard all the time. It has taken some time to wind down. It’s amazing how the body seems to store up physical exhaustion which when sto...

It’s a good season. Transition is uncertain, but God is steadfast and He is with me. I just got back this week from an amazing conference with ICAP (International Christian Alliance on Prostitution) at the Green Lake Conference Centre in Wisconsin. It was beautiful. Being on a search for beauty I found so much beauty there. The surroundings were beautiful, but I think the beauty that met me most deeply was the beauty of God’s heart, and the beauty of those who have chosen to connect to His heart. As I listened to speakers who have lived lives of loving God and people so well, I found myself typing and writing down the wisdom they shared. Some were good reminders, and others were words that expressed loving people in a way I’d never contemplated before, and these words ministered to my heart. So I wanted to reflect on a few of those many nuggets and invite you to read along if you like. Loving people. “Jesus never met a prostitute.” I was kind of shocked by the statemen...