A week from now, I'll be back in Latvia.
I'm still on track to accomplish my "running across Latvia, but not really" goal. I've logged over two hundred and fifty miles, which means I've got less than sixty left to run over the next six days. Finishing this run and returning to Latvia both seem like virtually sure things at this point, barring any major last-second catastrophes.¹
I'm still on track to accomplish my "running across Latvia, but not really" goal. I've logged over two hundred and fifty miles, which means I've got less than sixty left to run over the next six days. Finishing this run and returning to Latvia both seem like virtually sure things at this point, barring any major last-second catastrophes.¹
In the midst of all the movement I've experienced over the past six months, I find myself looking for something to cling to for a sense of grounding. Something that's normal, something that's consistent. I'm moving in and out of countries, cultures and relationships on an all-too-regular basis, and that can be an emotionally draining experience. Having some sort of steady line to hold on to through the various places and phases of life can be a life saver.²
Oddly enough, one of the most consistent threads through my life has also been one of the most varied.
While in Southampton, I've been attending the same church I did when I lived here three years ago. It's been such a blessing to slip back into fellowship with some familiar faces. As an introvert, I can often find church to be an emotionally draining experience - so many people! So many conversations! Impersonal small talk while holding coffee in one hand and your Bible in the other!³ - so it's very helpful for me to have a context in which I'm already somewhat connected and adjusted in which to worship. Otherwise, it can be a long and demanding process to make new connections and become comfortable enough in order to be able to truly worship.
As I travel, and connect - and re-connect - with church families that I now have in England, the U.S., and in Latvia, there are threads that join these different people, places and even languages together. God is there. His Word is alive. People come together to serve, to worship, and to grow in their knowledge of the person of Jesus.
My church here in Southampton recently concluded a series of studies on some of the post-exilic Biblical writings (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, etc.). In my current state of exile,⁴ I have found myself connecting with the story, and with the Word within the story, in a significant way. It's almost - almost - as if the messages were tailored to my needs. As if someone, somewhere, knew what I needed to hear, what would speak to my soul, and then proceeded to create an environment within which I would be able to hear it.
Church isn't just about the people and the building and the songs and the coffee⁵ and the liturgy and the activities and programs and ministry opportunities. It's not less than that - not by a long shot - but it's so very, very much more.
Finding a place and opportunity to meet with God - and to be met by Him - on a consistent basis can be a challenge. But when you do, it cuts across cultures and languages and time zones, and allows one to be fed and to to grow and to serve no matter where one finds oneself.
That's the sort of consistency that keeps my soul going.
¹Famous last words, I know. Hopefully I'm not tempting fate here...Oddly enough, one of the most consistent threads through my life has also been one of the most varied.
While in Southampton, I've been attending the same church I did when I lived here three years ago. It's been such a blessing to slip back into fellowship with some familiar faces. As an introvert, I can often find church to be an emotionally draining experience - so many people! So many conversations! Impersonal small talk while holding coffee in one hand and your Bible in the other!³ - so it's very helpful for me to have a context in which I'm already somewhat connected and adjusted in which to worship. Otherwise, it can be a long and demanding process to make new connections and become comfortable enough in order to be able to truly worship.
As I travel, and connect - and re-connect - with church families that I now have in England, the U.S., and in Latvia, there are threads that join these different people, places and even languages together. God is there. His Word is alive. People come together to serve, to worship, and to grow in their knowledge of the person of Jesus.
My church here in Southampton recently concluded a series of studies on some of the post-exilic Biblical writings (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, etc.). In my current state of exile,⁴ I have found myself connecting with the story, and with the Word within the story, in a significant way. It's almost - almost - as if the messages were tailored to my needs. As if someone, somewhere, knew what I needed to hear, what would speak to my soul, and then proceeded to create an environment within which I would be able to hear it.
Church isn't just about the people and the building and the songs and the coffee⁵ and the liturgy and the activities and programs and ministry opportunities. It's not less than that - not by a long shot - but it's so very, very much more.
Finding a place and opportunity to meet with God - and to be met by Him - on a consistent basis can be a challenge. But when you do, it cuts across cultures and languages and time zones, and allows one to be fed and to to grow and to serve no matter where one finds oneself.
That's the sort of consistency that keeps my soul going.
²The best source of grounding and consistency is undoubtedly found in the person of Jesus. But I think he often chooses to meet our needs through human agents and tangible elements, and it's those that I try and look for.
³I'll be honest- sometimes it's the coffee, and not the fellowship, that gets me to stick around afterwards. I'm usually glad I did, but there's definitely a strong urge to escape that usually kicks in right after the end of the service
⁴Granted, my situation pales in comparison with pretty much any other exilic scenario one could imagine. But there have been just enough shades of similarity between my experience and that of the Jewish nation for me to be able to identify in a small, but new and deeply meaningful way
⁵Church coffee is usually a pretty dismal experience. Just saying. I can't remember the last time I had a decent cup after a church service (not counting the pastor's study).