"Come forth"

We had a rough week last week. I can't share the details—it's not my story to tell—but it involved the death of someone we knew. I've been a bit lost for words, but I did know that, in the midst of my current busy-ness I needed to find time and space to think about this loss and that writing is one way that I do that. So I took some time on Monday to go to a park and think about the week that's past (when the weather was warm and the rest of my family were home on a long weekend). But the writing I did then is not something I can share here.

Monday was an unusually spring-like day, even
if many of the trees are still leafless.

But I also remembered that I'd decided to work my way through a book called Come Closer by writing about one verse a month (corresponding to one chapter in the book). And it turns out that the next chapter in that book is about death. About the story of Lazarus' resurrection:

Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43.)

Oh, don't we all wish that the Lord would say that for loved ones we've lost? We groan in this death and pain-marred world.

We don't want it in our lives, we try to deny that it happens. But can we allow it to turn our eyes to the truth? That we were made for Eden, a perfect world, with no sin or death. That our longings for an unmarred world are really longing for that, and for life everlasting in heaven. Read God's words:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new. (Revelations 21:3–5 ESV)

Right now we don't know the answer to the "Whys?" And that's not comfortable. But for those of us who follow the God of the Bible, we do know that there is a future in which all of this pain will be gone. And for those who have gone before us, that their pain is now all in the past. That is something to hold on to, even as we mourn their loss to us.

I'm also left with the question, like last time I wrote on this "Come" series—how can I live abundant life now, even as I get weighed down by the griefs of this life? I think one key is found in one of my favourite passages. Looking to Jesus—

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that
you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV)

Music played a part in my reflections at the park on Monday. Here's one song I missed, though:

 

 

January was an unusual month for me at work

Last week I worked in a team of three people facilitating a workshop that helps prepare missionaries for home assignment (PHAW). It was my first time! And the most formal teaching I've ever done. Not to mention, the first time I've been a presenter on the "in control" end of a Zoom workshop. I spent nearly 40 hours on Zoom over the two weeks of the workshop and I'm exhausted this week! It's taking me a while to get back to a "status quo" of energy, and given that it's already Thursday, I'm thinking I won't be back to 100% before the weekend.

One of my favourite things about this course is the amount of writing you get to do. We were participants back in 2003 and 2009, at the end of our first and second terms. This course was one of those things that God used to awaken in me an understanding that I love to tell stories, and that I love to write about things that have happened in my life.

As facilitators, we had to give several presentations of stories we've written to demonstrate what was possible. So in the weeks leading up to the course, I got to indulge in writing! Of course writing for speaking is a little different, and this course is very strict on time limitations, but it was still fun. I'm a bit peeved that Blogger seems to disallow cutting and pasting from Word these days, otherwise I might have shared a five-minute talk I gave last Monday. I'm not sure I want to type all that out again...

Picking up this new role has pushed me outside my comfort zone. I'm very at home sitting at my computer, working on other people's writing (and my own), managing a couple of remote teams, and working with social media. Not that my role has been static, or without changes or challenges over the last five years. But teaching adults, using someone else's curriculum, and over Zoom was way outside what I've got experience in, and so I've felt very stretched this last month. But it's been good for me. I have a tendency to get bored, so a new challenge was welcome, but I also know that the older we get (yes, I know I'm not even 50 yet), the more set in our ways we become and the harder it is to change. So shaking that up every now and then is helpful. 

As I worked on this new job assignment through the month, I also became aware that, though I'm not trained as a teacher, I have a good amount of experience on the topic that we were talking about: home assignment. We've done a total of three and a half years of home assignment in the last 16 years (not counting the 21 months of deputation we did prior to coming to Japan the first time), so it's not a topic that I know nothing about. It's good to be able to pass something of my experience on to others. Not to mention that I've pretty comfortable with working on succinct writing and working with writers, something this course demands. However what I found more challenging was the listening skills required: for some of the time we were critiquing talks, not written work like I usually do.

I also enjoyed working more closely with people. Though I work with people all the time, I don't talk to them often. Interacting daily in a team, even virtually, was stimulating for this ambivert (extrovert with a strong introvert shadow). Before the week started, I packed my bag and moved to our mission's Japan guest home and headquarters the other side of Tokyo—in order to give my all to the course, and to minimise the disruption here at home. (This role required me to be working late and being on video calls during times when others would be using the room I call my office, but which is also in our family's living area.) As I was working in an office building, I also saw colleagues who I otherwise never see. It's the first time I've had an office outside of my home since I became a mum in 1999! I got quite giddy being able to pop my head into someone's office to ask them a question. And I took the time to go for a long walk and talk with two of them.

But, I have to say that I'm glad that that intensity is over for now. I could not, and have never entertained the thought, that I could be a teacher year-round. I'm happy to be back at my desk, doing what I usually do again, even if it doesn't generate the adrenaline-rush that I had going last week.

Best get back to my day-job...