This past weekend Erik and I traveled to Warrenton, Virginia to be a part of his friend’s wedding. His friend moved to China several years ago to work for a company and just happened to meet the woman of his dreams (also an American) while there. Their story is a sweet one—a beautiful testimony of God’s ability to bring two remarkably compatible people together in the midst of 1.3 billion.
We were delighted to celebrate with such a special couple, and we were equally delighted to meet their friends, a few who traveled all the way from China to attend.
Our trip began in Atlanta, moved to Durham for a short visit with my brother and sister-in-law, then on to Charlottesville for an overnight stay with dear friends, then on to Warrenton. It’s impossible to put into words the blessing of each stop. How I crave the sweet fellowship with my close family and friends who are spread across the nation and world. There’s nothing like it.
It’s amazing how God wove each conversation with each friend, family member, or new acquaintance together. It’s as if he had a specific message just for me.
That said, here are some thoughts from the weekend…
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Travel has a way of opening up the mind and heart to hear and experience new and exciting, sometimes even frightening things. Going beyond travel to actually moving to the other side of the world is another thing altogether. Diving head first into a whole new culture requires a lot of passion, faith, bravery and a willingness to give up familiar little comforts. It’s not easy and not everyone is cut out to leave everything behind and begin a new life somewhere else. It is interesting, though, that those who follow their urge to do so often find themselves completely content for the first time in their lives.
“Settled” is a common phrase for finally putting down roots somewhere. Buying a house, starting a family, committing to a specific location. But how many “settled” people are actually content? I met some amazing people this past weekend that were absolutely settled despite being far away from everything they once considered comfortable. In reality there is nothing about their lives that is permanent. They realize that at any moment they could be asked to pack up and go back to the USA. They live with a constant understanding that they are where they are because God has put them there and their job is simply to live and love. Their earthly “roots” are no more—their citizenship is in heaven and they are satisfied with that.
I was so encouraged to hear one gentleman who now lives and works in China reiterate what my parents constantly taught me growing up: storing up “treasure” on earth (making it ones ambition to be “successful” in the eyes of the world) is pointless. True treasure is people. For the first time I realized what Jesus meant when he said, “lay up for yourself treasure in heaven.” God’s treasure is people. Our time on earth should be focused on building relationships and making disciples whether we live in America, Bulgaria, Russia, or China.
Believers have been described as being “aliens and strangers in the world.” “In it, not of it.” My sister-in-law, Kari pointed out that it might be easier to remember one is a “stranger” when one truly is one (in culture, not just in faith) but those of us who are living in the country of our birth seem to have a more difficult time remembering that we, too are outsiders. Our home, our place of rest—our “roots” are not in this world. Even our native language is supposed to be another language altogether. Imagine how different our lives would be and how content we could be if we truly embraced that reality. We could focus on what is important in life (loving God and loving people) instead of spending all of our energy pursuing security in this world.
There’s a Caedmon’s Call song about “a man, his bride, his children, and his roses . . . they found Jesus and they really know Him”—inspired by a family they met in Ecuador who seemed to be content with their existence. Oh that we could be so content!
Moving to the other side of the world is a huge commitment. So is choosing to follow Christ. The next time I get stressed out about earthly comforts and security I pray I will take a step back and remember that just like my new friends in China, I can be content with my existence. I can be secure in the knowledge that whatever God has put in my hands to do at this moment, whether it seems important to others or not, is enough.
