Journal
Things have been busy around here lately. We’re all moved in to our new Kenyan home in Mbita, just off of Lake Victoria near the Kenyan Islands. There is a beautiful sunset every night and occasionally majestic thunderstorms that make the branches of the acacia trees slam up against our tin roof, which is creepy and cool at the same time. We’re currently in Jinja, Uganda, on debrief – our parent organization, AIM, sends leaders to debrief our time in Africa so that we have a chance to process through everything. We’re staying right on the cliffs of the Nile in safari tents and quadruple decker treehouse-style bunkbeds (I’ve claimed the top top TOP bunk) in a resort community. I had a cheeseburger last night…that might not sound like a big deal, but trust me – it is.
Today as a part of our debrief activities, we were to go through our journals and highlight significant days/events that we’ve experienced on our trip so far. I came across this short entry I wrote the first day in Kenya, about 2 weeks ago. After feeling so much heaviness in our lives in Uganda, there was a palpable change when we arrived in Kenya…I tried to capture the moment in my journal…and I thought I’d share it with you.
“There is blue that is bluer than blue
And green that is greener than gray
And a day that is brighter than the thousand before
And a life that is simple and sweet
In the month of January…
There is a freeing of my heart here, a hope that is simultaneously light and heavy. There is an aura of peace that blinds and calms; there is the scent of lilacs in bloom and the sound of the wind rustling the tree leaves. They sing “I Am who I Am” and they dance and glisten in the sweet sunlight…”
As I sat there, I took time to listen to God. He’s been teaching me a lot about listening lately, so on this particular day, I just stopped to listen. And this is what I heard:
“Beloved, stop trying to figure everything out. Be here now. I am here with you. Do not carry on without me. I have love for you in this moment, on this bench. Have you received the love I have for you today?”
Beauty is in you and all around you. God has love for you in this moment, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Stop what you’re doing and receive it.
I like your POEM.
i like the way you can stop to lisen..I MISS U
beautiful words Jess… (great seeing you by the way, hope your visit to Busia went well!)