Lord Unto Me

I recently was scolded for my infrequent posting habits. I'm here to remedy that.

Right now I'm back in good ol' Chesapeake. I'm really enjoying this time to catch up with friends, relax with family, and get into the Christmas spirit.

Everybody warns you before you travel to a foreign country about "culture shock". I, personally, don't feel I've ever really experienced that in foreign countries, mostly just when I come back home from a trip to a foreign country. America is certainly an unusual place compared to the rest of the world. Infused with culture, yet culture-less. Organized chaos, civilized primitivism. Yes, an unusual place indeed.

I suppose the truth of the matter is that Honduras is not really a "foreign" country to me anymore. Before I came here, when I was talking about Chesapeake, I used the phrase "back home" preceding everything. I find that here in Chesapeake, when I'm talking about Honduras, I use the same phrase. Both places feel very much like home. And, I feel very blessed to be able to broaden my horizons in such a way that two very different places can both give me the feeling of contentedness and belonging.

Being back home has forced me to take a good, long look at the last 3 months and evaluate what has happened. Which, if you pay attention, is in fact very odd. When you're in high school and Christmas season comes do you take time to think about how you've changed since school started and what you've learned and what your favorite thing was? Pienso que no. But, when you've been living in Honduras and you come home and have to come up with an answer to all of those questions for nearly everyone you come in contact with-you have to come up with something. Therefore, I've spent a lot of thought on this review of my life in Honduras, (Yes, that's what's going on when I'm "umm"ing and "ahhh"ing after each question.) and here's what I've concluded (thus far).

I think that a good way to summarize the last 3 months would be with this:

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures."

Those three lines hit the nail on the head. Since I moved to Honduras the Lord has been my Shepherd. He has guided me, cared for me, and provided for me. In every situation, He is the One that I look to so that I don't get lost, the One I look to for protection.

And, I've found that life in Honduras has left me without any "wants". Everything I need, and want, he has provided. (All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.) I find this ironic because before moving to Honduras I was consumed with thoughts and preparations so that, once I got there, I would not be wanting of anything. As it turns out, God knows far better than I what the 'essentials' are. And, they are not a certain brand of face wash, cute clothes, or my favorite kinds of food. They are things that can only be given by His hand: edifying fellowship, loving relationships, a joyful spirit, etc.

Then there's that last sentence:

"He makes me lie down in green pastures." Oh, does He ever. Not only does the Lord guide me, not only does He provide for me, but He makes me happy. I know, it's not "Christianese" and not even a word that most Christians would use in relation to something God would give us as a gift. We much prefer the word, "joy". And, I understand, because I also have had times in my life that God has given me GREAT joy. Right now is even one of those times. But, I consider joy something that we have in all circumstances as Christians. I am filled with great joy even when experiencing strong suffering. However, what I've been given regarding life in Honduras... is happiness. I love where I live, I love the people I'm around, I love what I do. I'm just happy about my life. I have a lot of fun. So, God doesn't just provide for my every need and respond faithfully to my every cry, He makes me lie down in green pastures. He has brought me to a lush place that fulfills my needs and my wants, a place where I have joy and happiness.

I am truly blessed.