|
| Right now snow is softly falling outside my window here in Korea. It has been snowing since last night, and it is sooooooo beautiful. Yet another precious gift from God, and a wonderful reminder around Christmas time that Jesus came to this earth to make us clean and pure like this spotless snow. I have been reflecting a lot lately on all God has done and on all His provision in my life in the past year. This Tuesday marks a year ago that I interviewed for this job. I distinctly remember realizing that this (coming to Korea) was God's plan for me and being pretty petrified about leaving everything and everyone to follow Him into the unknown. I remember being constantly encouraged and challenged by the story of Abraham, who obeyed God in faith, not only into an unknown place, but also toward a mountain of sacrifice with his only son. After 5+ months here, I feel a small taste of what Abraham must have felt when he saw that ram in the brush and realized that God was honored in his obedience and indeed provided everything Abraham needed. Though following God's call to Korea has required faith, obedience, and sacrifice, His rewards have far outweighed my offerings. I could not have dreamed a year ago all that God would do in and through me here; I couldn't then possibly picture my life here being so rich with blessing...I am daily dumbfounded by God's outpouring of good gifts, undeserved and unexpected. What I anticipated to be the hardest season of my life (my transition to Korea), though not lacking challenges, has in reality been a beautiful time of growth and learning to appreciate and receive God's gifts without questioning them. He is truly so kind and good, and as our Father lavishes His love on His children. I am grateful to be called a daughter of God, and want to take the time to acknowledge His precious gifts and publicly thank Him for them. I am incredibly blessed! "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knowck and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?" Matthew 7:7-11 | | |
| First of all, I have to say that this blog was inspired almost entirely by Robby Gordon's latest post (xanga.com/compelledbylove)...so thanks Robby for yet again challenging my thinking and redrawing my attention to the things of highest importance. As anyone can tell from my xanga site, seasons are a recurring theme for me. I have come to realize lately that ironically, changing seasons provide one of the most reliable contants that we as human beings experience...yes, I have discovered consistency in change. Being in Korea opened my eyes to this reality more than anything. Though Autumn was delayed this year a bit, fall is now in full bloom here in Taejon (yet another irony, since "full bloom" in fall is actually the death of blossoms until Spring). The leaves are finally changing to glorious hues of green, yellow, orange, and red, the air is cool and crisp, and all the mosquitoes are finding refuge in my favorite restaurants and coffee shops (oh wait, that's unique to Korea...well, it's a new part of fall for me!). Anyway, as I was reflecting on my favorite time of year (Autumn), I realized that the changing seasons provide one of the very few constants that I have experienced regularly throughout my life. I have lived in 3 states and 2 different countries, traveled throughout the U.S. and to four continents, and everywhere I have gone, seasons change. Fortunately in Korea, there are four distinct seasons and they are similar to the Carolinas (which I miss!!). I thought, though, about missionaries who go to many places in Africa, for example, where there are two basic seasons: hot/wet and hotter/dry. I think I would struggle with this a lot, because though I never realized it before now, my life depends on the certainty that the seasons will indeed change as they always have and that this continuous cycle of change will remain the same. Oh the ironies of life... The point of all this reflective rambling is that I, who have always said I hate change, rely on the changing seasons to provide stability. Unlike many areas in my life, I do not dread these changes (though Winter remains my least favorite and will be colder this year than in years past); rather I embrace them and delight in the newness of each unique time of the year. The past year has been packed full of changes and some of them I am still processing. As Robby rightly reminded me, life will never cease to be filled with transition...in fact, I am finding the changes seem to increase with age and experience. I appreciate so much his challenge to self and others to seek to thrive in each season of life, rather than just managing or surviving through it. I know once winter has settled in, I will begin to anxiously long for Spring's arrival, rather than choosing to enjoy the current season. Yet even now, as I see Fall slowly slipping away like the falling leaves, I am reminded that each stage of life is a gift, never to be received again, only to be enjoyed once in its distinct place in the course of our lives. I do not want to lament this fact, or regret times past, but rather to seek to enjoy each day to the fullest, and embrace each season as it comes. I look forward to the changing seasons ahead-in nature and in life-as God, immutable Creator of time and change and seasons, transforms me through life's many transitions. I am loving Fall right now, but eagerly anticipate the coming of new seasons, yes, of change. And I find that in these constantly changing seasons, I find great security...yes, security in change, and in my unchanging Maker. "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." -Daniel 2:20-22 | | |
| Today I discovered a new song and I have listened to it all day. I have felt a whirlwind of emotions today for no particular reason, and it has both enhanced my joy and consoled my sorrows as I have let the truth of its words and the power of its music wash over me. It's called, "Be Thou Near To Me", by Selah. I especially like verse 2; thought the lyrics might encourage someone...Oh Lord, I come with heart here open For in my heart of darkness I may be Seeking the joy of love unspoken Oh Lord, be Thou near to me. Chorus: And the holy voices sing Hallelu Ever will Thy reign be As I wander through this life Oh Lord, be Thou near to me. Verse 2: Tho' in this burden of my making Yet in the shadows still a Light I see Maker whose love is not forsaken Oh Lord, be Thou near to me. Resting in His nearness today... | | |
| It's raining today, and finally feeling like Fall. I love rainy days in Taejon because I always win the "crazy waegukin" game. It's not really much of a game; it's more like me walking in the rain and all the locals staring, sometimes pointing, at the crazy girl with long reddish hair unprotected from the elements. You see, in Korea, no one, I mean NO ONE walks around in the rain without an umbrella. Even when it's sunny out, many Koreans can be seen sporting their colorful umbrellas as they shield themselves from the sun. Most of you who know me well easily remember my love for rainwalks...umbrella excluded. What you may not realize is that even on a dry day, I tend to evoke stares from basically everyone (must be my fair hair, blue eyes, 5'8" frame, or pinkish skin). I have often thought to myself that I would likely get the same response if I had purple, blue or green skin in the States. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, here's a few stories for your enjoyment... Last week I went for a walk around Hannam University campus and ran into a group of elementary school Korean kids. Apparently seeing me was the most exciting event of the day (maybe even the week!), and once I heard one kid say "waegukin" ("foreigner") in Korean, I knew what was coming. This same kid, whose outburst had exposed my presence to the group, started a chorus of "Hi" and "Hello" from about a dozen little Korean boys and girls. I responded kindly back, "hi" (about 20 times), and then proceeded with my walk. I was then serenaded with an encore performance composed of multiple almost-angelic youthful voices shouting, "Bye!". Again, I responded accordingly (again, about 20 times), waving several times and chuckling as I continued on my way. Then today I went to HomePlus (local grocery store) with Lisa, a fellow dorm staff member from South Africa. Like myself, Lisa has fair skin and blue-green eyes and is accustomed to some stares here in public. However, neither of us were prepared for today's somewhat humorous, somewhat creepy experience at the store. We started out in the produce section where two older Korean ladies started looking at us strangely. Thinking it was just the common response to a few foreigners, Lisa and I carried on with our shopping. On the next aisle I looked back at Lisa, who was buying canned drinks for her dorm store, and noticed that the same two women had followed us and were scrutinizing our every movement, making comments and mildly pretending to look at similar merchandise. The two women proceeded to follow us around the store, stopping to touch whatever we touched, pointing at things in our carts, and even getting in line next to us at the check-out counter (though between the two of them they only bought one item). Lisa and I were a little freaked out, but mostly just laughed at these women and wondered what they found so intriguing about the two crazy foreigners at HomePlus. Ah, the life of a waegukin... | | |
|
