My departure date for India is just 20 days from now. I feel like "20" is the start of a legitimate countdown. I have been etching out packing lists, studying the Tamil language in my free time, and dusting off my Indian clothing from my last visit to reuse.
There are a few major benefits of leaving the country. Namely, when petitioning solicitors approach you on the roadside as you are leisurely strolling in the city, and inconvenience you with attempts to get you to sign ballots on issues your are undereducated (like saving the habitat of threatened bird species such as the blue-footed booby). Not that I don't have compassion for these type of issues, but I will say that claiming, "I'm sorry...I am actually moving to India in a few weeks", is a quick and easy escape from hearing the petitioner's schpeel only to decide you don't have enough information to actually sign.
The "moving overseas" excuse also comes in handy when sales employees at major department stores try to coax you into saving 10% by signing up for an additional credit card. I utilized the excuse just last night when buying a wedding gift at Crate & Barrel in downtown Bellevue. I am generally used to hearing a small reaction like, "Oh, wow...ok...have a good trip." But this time, I was unexpectedly surprised to hear the sales employee inquire on why I was going.
Whenever I get the "why" inquiry, I usually dispel curiosity quickly with the brevity of my answer. I say something (almost memorized) like, "I will be working on writing projects and living in an orphanage in South India." But lately I have been questioning why I don't directly answer. Why not share my life a little more with a stranger even if it's unexpected on their part? Why not let the passion for India that the Lord gave me spill over? Why not tell them just what I will be doing instead of being evasive with a quick reply?
In that moment at Crate & Barrel, I told Anita (the sales clerk) exactly why I was going. The truth is, I didn't have precise details of an itinerary to share with her, but I did know that I was called to go to India and I followed the call. I told her the ultimate reason I am leaving. That I am simply responding to what Jesus has commissioned me to do. That I am moving forward with Him, compelled by His awesome love for me and with the desire to share His love with many in India who might otherwise never hear. That I don't have all of the details strung together nicely like a fine pearl necklace, but that things are a bit messier than that. Some questions won't be answered till I get there...and others might never be answered at all.
Anita listened with glowing eyes and did everything she could to give me a hug over the top of the counter. Then she and the woman behind her (another sales clerk) started pouring out all sorts of encouraging words. "God is going to reward you for being obedient," Anita said, "and He is always with you." Her words were so simple and so perfectly needed in that moment. She proceeded to pray for me right there at the counter in the glassware section and squeezed my hands tightly till my fingertips bent over her wrists.
Wow. Who knew this woman shared the same love for Jesus with me? My overwhelming feeling wasn't one of coincidence, but rather a sweet feeling of being utterly known by God. His care for me was so evident and close in the middle of the unlikely setting of a home decor store. I thanked Anita and walked out of Crate & Barrel with my over-sized black and white gift-wrapped box. As I swung the box back and forth, balancing it with my right hand, I couldn't stop smiling. I walked to my car with just a little more faith than when I walked in with nothing but a glass vase on my mind. I love it when God shows up.
Whenever I get the "why" inquiry, I usually dispel curiosity quickly with the brevity of my answer. I say something (almost memorized) like, "I will be working on writing projects and living in an orphanage in South India." But lately I have been questioning why I don't directly answer. Why not share my life a little more with a stranger even if it's unexpected on their part? Why not let the passion for India that the Lord gave me spill over? Why not tell them just what I will be doing instead of being evasive with a quick reply?
In that moment at Crate & Barrel, I told Anita (the sales clerk) exactly why I was going. The truth is, I didn't have precise details of an itinerary to share with her, but I did know that I was called to go to India and I followed the call. I told her the ultimate reason I am leaving. That I am simply responding to what Jesus has commissioned me to do. That I am moving forward with Him, compelled by His awesome love for me and with the desire to share His love with many in India who might otherwise never hear. That I don't have all of the details strung together nicely like a fine pearl necklace, but that things are a bit messier than that. Some questions won't be answered till I get there...and others might never be answered at all.
Anita listened with glowing eyes and did everything she could to give me a hug over the top of the counter. Then she and the woman behind her (another sales clerk) started pouring out all sorts of encouraging words. "God is going to reward you for being obedient," Anita said, "and He is always with you." Her words were so simple and so perfectly needed in that moment. She proceeded to pray for me right there at the counter in the glassware section and squeezed my hands tightly till my fingertips bent over her wrists.
Wow. Who knew this woman shared the same love for Jesus with me? My overwhelming feeling wasn't one of coincidence, but rather a sweet feeling of being utterly known by God. His care for me was so evident and close in the middle of the unlikely setting of a home decor store. I thanked Anita and walked out of Crate & Barrel with my over-sized black and white gift-wrapped box. As I swung the box back and forth, balancing it with my right hand, I couldn't stop smiling. I walked to my car with just a little more faith than when I walked in with nothing but a glass vase on my mind. I love it when God shows up.
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