Well . . . except . . . that there's this other little thing happening.
Culture Shock
It might be easy enough to understand that a shift in our lives caused by multiple life-threatening episodes might lead us to feel unsettled, confused, and even questioning. All of that and more is true. Rather than continue that description I'd like to move to another very real aspect of our days.
We're back in our homeland, our passport country, the nation where we were born and raised and have lived most of our lives. And yet, it's not the same place we left two short years ago. In many ways we're dealing with similar issues we confronted when adjusting to life in Prague.
Though we speak the same basic language the conversations around us include foreign concepts, such as a Commander-in-Chief 'purging' top generals when there's so much unrest in the world.
Though we are working with familiar money the prices we see in stores cause us to calculate again and again about value, needs v. wants, resources, and more.
Though we are the ones walking through our days there seem to be countless outside forces carrying us along at such a pace it makes my head spin.
We call doctors and fax forms.
We buy and set up a cell phone.
We rest in our hosts' generous three week provision and seek further housing.
I sit back behind the driver's wheel and concentrate on roads, traffic, and directions.
We spend time with our grandchildren and do our best to contribute to that household.
We ponder the unknown future, desiring most of all to follow the words of Matthew 6:33.
In the midst of another whole set of challenging differences I would be lost if it were not for God's presence and the power of His Truth. I revel in the Bible's use of the word same.
"There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." 1 Corinthians 12:5,6
God is the LORD and He does not change in who He is or how He intervenes in the lives of men.
"In the same way the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." Colossians 1:6
The Good News of salvation extends God's grace through faith resulting in changed lives and new life, appearing globally as it has in me. Ephesians 2:8-10
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
The Son of God continues to seek and to save the lost, of which I was one. Luke 19:10
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." 1 Peter 4:1
I need not struggle or wander since I have an example after which to pattern my life, beginning with and working out from the attitudes of my heart.
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