I've had the baby on my back pack carrier at home all day as fire crackers go off none stop....some festival going on outside--not sure what this one is for ;0) It seems tonight after the billionth cracker as I work around here as all is normal and play some Phil Wicham songs baby is learning he is safe and becoming familiar with the constant bangs. But even I have not been able to get used to it. If you look out our back--or front--or side you will see an inch of wrappers covering the road from the fire crackers-the smoke is so thick you can't even see the crowds formed just at the base of our stairs setting off the light show. It's sheer madness and my heart smiles over God's goodness that we are here.
I can truly say in a day there is not one thing, exept of course God's faithfulness and our pursuit of Him and one another that is the same as daily living in the West. It is a good thing. I am convinced. The slow pace, the simplicity, the focus on God and the spiritual all around--you can even feel it in the market. I believe it's a good thing. We are the farthest from that place where all try to look their best and are consumed with money-making and being important. It is a place where believers come and pray for the day below in our church, where neighbors walk in just to say hi, sqeeze my babies cheeks, offer advise for his cold and go their way. ;0) This is the place where laundry is done by hand in a bucket, where water runs out most days and we save it in another bucket, where we walk or borrow a bike or grab a rick-shaw, where we sit on the floor to eat using our hands, where the power cuts most afternoons and some nights-where friends drop by instead of calling. We have to get to know each other when we slow down.
Where I have utterly neglected this blog!! I blame it on the simplicity of life. I am determined to get back to it!
I am thankful.
I find everyday God challenges me. Challenges my faith, my routines, the myriads of ways I discover I am trying to be god and keep things under control when He is allowing things to fall apart around me. I see His beauty here and I am learning He is liberating me. I praise Him for it. It's a great thing to be set free. Of all the things that hold me back from truly seeing Him, of all the obstacles I find I myself have put there in my attempt to like Him. Teach me to embrace simplicity, Lord. It seems the opposite from all I have learned about being productive, juggling and being ambitious in the West. Were it not for some of that ambition, I doubt I would have ever come to India--or be married to this family for that matter-so I have to thank the Lord for it and now learn this new freedom of being. Sitting at feet, being still, watching at His posts--looking for where He is on the move. I believe simplicity would describe You if You were living here, Lord. Let the goals and agendas and self-promoting ideas and ambitions fall away. Let me be still and know that You are.
I sit here with the believers and we have tea. They share their struggles with me and suddenly I realize as I hug them, I am His arms. Godly families are one in a million here. May the fragrance of ours draw them near a loving Savior. May the Godliness they see in our day to day convince them the Gospel is the Truth. And He is the only One to redeem and truly set them free.
I am embracing simplicity and it is good. I feel liberated. My mind is clear. I pray this remains---whether east or west or north or south. You are God, I have no reason to strive.
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