“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go
from your country, your people, and your father’s household to a land I will
show you.
‘I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you; I will make your name great (change your name), and you
will be a blessing.’” Genesis 12:1-2
Long ago
done. Done again and again. Trailing spouse leaves career, identity, beloved spaces;
goes out known once more only as “his wife.” Shepherds the children, sets up a
space, finds the necessities, learns how to make home with foreign resources.
Saudi
Arabia at 21. Alaska at 23. Wyoming at 26. Scotland at 36. United Arab Emirates
at 49. Leaving job offers, graduate school plans, homes, family, friends,
career and profession, ministry passion, community admiration.
Learns to
drive crazy, shuffles paperwork, checks out schools, sews labels into countless
bits of school uniform, comforts children bereft of pets and other friends,
combs foreign shops, figures out how to get things done. Watches and listens
for new purpose and place while he
goes to work, gets introduced and promoted, renews friendships--his days full
of dignity and purpose. Invited, needed, appreciated.
Invites
people. Watches for community. Puts herself out there. Writes letters and
checks the mailbox often.
More lately
comes Turkey at 52, and Spa for the Soul. A pilgrimage she chose, a movement forward with vision and purpose. Pursuit of a
dream, an invitation from Jesus made to both of them. For the first time she
goes before, buying and renovating, training in spiritual direction, learning
language.
So many
journeys of letting go, of pilgrimage, of finding new life. Always there has
been joy to follow confusion, grief, loneliness and loss of role. Much
joy—pressed down, poured out, running over. Would not have missed it. So
grateful. The journeys enrich and mold her. Suffering and transition give way
to unimagined opportunities. and expansive ways of knowing and learning to love
God’s world.
She knows
Him through Indian laborers gathered to sing praise in her Arab living room,
bargains struck in ancient souks, bone-jarring rollicks over silent deserts,
graduation at the top of her law school class, life and fellowship and work
among the invisible working poor, teaching Bible across cultures, the love and faithful
prayers of old folks, death-bed watches, tramps through hills and valleys for
days on end, an ever-open home that lends safety and shelter and listening for
the world, life immersed in nations, and the never-ending journey of adapting
and flexing and learning and loving and being loved. Secretary turned lawyer,
turned Bible teacher, turned community leader and housing provider, turned
mentor and change agent and caregiver, turned encourager and director and
simple place-maker. Turned Momi and Grandma to American, Albanian, Dutch,
Nepalese, Pakistani and Turk dear ones.
A full,
proactive life of influence settles now to quiet waiting and loving. Much
removed and released so that new can emerge.
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