Fresh Perspective

We were in the States over the winter holidays, and it was deeply special to connect with those we love dearly.  To peer into their worlds and linger over meals, Frisbee golf, puppy snuggles, and Rosie snuggles too.  We are incredibly grateful for the time and the home that was leant to us.  Auto pilot mode kicked in as our last few days in the States came to an end.  I started packing the bags, making sure our overseas friend's orders had arrived, running to get final last-minute things on our essential supply list, remembering "we thought of you" gifts, laundry, leaving the house clean and orderly, writing thank you notes, having closure conversations with our kids and....  After doing this for 12 year I have begun to turn off my emotions as we prepare to return.  Just get the bags to weigh under 23 kg and the the to-do list done.  Stay focused. Don't be emotional.  You would think it gets easier.  For

 I wrote part 1, over two, maybe three weeks ago and have felt unmotivated to publish it… Why?  I’m not sure. Perhaps because I am still struggling some days with this divided heart feeling. But God has been whispering ALL over it in the sweetest, most gentle, and encouraging way and I need to testify to His goodness. For several years I have been convicted to start memorizing scripture again.  Ashamedly, I have ignored that inner prompting for years.  In the New Year, one of my dear friends here mentioned that she was memorizing scripture.  She inspired me to join her and be accountable each week to share what I have learned with her. I have been memorizing John 15 in small junks.  And when I started really trying to hide verse 11 in my heart, I was so delighted to learn that God wants more for me than a divided heart.  I invite you to listen to this verse of Jesus speaking, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  The pr

  A gorgeous view (in the distance the Mediterranean Sea) in the mountains of Lebanon. One of our 4 sons had a make belief world when he was a little boy.  This world was named Townasia and was filled with wonder, joy, and adventure. In Townasia , friends and animals were delightful companions and accompanied this little boy in his tree forts and tromps throughout our property. Mysteriously, I didn’t quite know how to navigate his escape world, especially when everything in Townasia was “perfect” compared to real life that was not always so delightful or magical.  I remember, repeatedly gently re-orienting him to real life and the joy that could be found here in this world despite its imperfections. Eventually, Townasia disappeared from little boy chatter and was replaced with realistic playing, companions and less escaping. Recently I have begun to ponder Townasia more. Transparently, I recognize that I have for all my years of living overseas (and perhaps longer) escaped to my

Adelle swung by to pick me up in her car to meet our newest refugee artisan. All I knew was that she had four little boys and that she was sewing hand embroidered bookmarks after the boys went to sleep at night. Driving through the local neighborhoods, Adelle and I were able to handle other Woven Dignity details. Soon, the neighborhood changed into buildings that were run down and uncared for. As we climbed the stairs to Malak’s apartment, I couldn’t take it all in fast enough.  The stairs had pieces of crumbled brick from where the building was disintegrating.  The word “Condemned!” should have been written across the entrance way, but instead the building was fully occupied. I could feel the eyes of the tenants watching the foreign lady arrive. Electricity wires ran everywhere in haphazard, couldn't-care-less, chaos. Four flights of stairs and we arrived at the “home” of Malak and her children. This home was one room with a tiny kitchen attached. There was one window with no

  Hitting the ceiling of our human tolerance is a common experience for all of us navigating this journey called “life”. Bumping up against that ceiling happens even more frequently when living as an expatriate in a foreign land.  The cultural differences, the absence of family, the political tensions, the lack of home comforts and a long list of “more”, tests the strands of resilience and grit. Each ceiling hit being unique and different for each of us. The more we bump that ceiling of high stress, the more water in our “buckets” (souls) gets sloshed out.  Without care and attention that bucket can run dry.  On our recent annual leave, as the plane took off from the Beirut, Lebanon runway, I recognized that I had been bumping up against that ceiling too often and that my bucket had only a little water sloshing around in the bottom.  I asked the Lord to lead me into green pastures and to restore my soul besides still waters as I returned “home”. Darron and I are not used to li