It's a beautiful place. Cultures come together. Lives are being changed. God is at work. Paul DeNeui would be happy to know that I'm under no illusions that God waited until I showed up to be at work- nope, God showed up here a long time ago. I'm blessed to be a part of the work here and learn from the others who have been serving in Taiwan for so long.
During my first week here we were talking about transition stuff and I had an epiphany. As a TCK I have never really settled anywhere. When people talk about transition phases, we talk about being engaged somewhere, going through phases of transition, and then re-engaging. But when you are aware that you may be leaving somewhere you begin transitioning out, and I have never lived anywhere that I didn't know I was leaving. I don't know what it means to be truly engaged in a community, because I am always planning on leaving. What's weird about Taichung is that for the first time in my life there is the POSSIBILITY of engagement. I could potentially settle here and not leave for a very long time. I have no idea how long I'll be here, but I'm not PLANNING on leaving. It's a strange thing, and I'm not quite sure how to cope with it, but I do know that it gives me hope. Hope that for the first time I might really be able to fully invest in a place. But I'm also afraid. I'm afraid that I just don't know how to engage and that this perfectionist will fail miserably in her attempts to do so.
As I was reading my devotional passage for the day I realized that, just like so many other times, God had the perfect passage for me today. I almost skipped it in the laziness that comes before knowing that my job is about to start in full force, but by the grace of God this is one day I did not skip the Covenant Home Altar's scripture reading.
Psalm 107:1-9 & 43
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, form east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things... Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord."
WOW! In so many ways, this is my story. Beth was living in the desert and couldn't settle anywhere, then she cried out to God and he led her to a city where she could settle. The future is yet to be seen, but this I know- God has led me to a city where I could settle. I don't know how this will all play out, but I trust that God's love is unfailing and I plan to consider the great love of the Lord now and always.
