Last night Jeff, Claire Marin and I had dinner with our friends Herb and Sue to hear about their experiences in Malawi and to look at their pictures. We asked more questions. We saw glimpses of the country through their pictures – the people, the beauty, the humor, the poverty, the roads and the “bridges”, and their churches.
When we left Herb emailed the Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Malawi to propose dates for a trip in February. By 1am this morning we had received an enthusiastic confirmation of the dates. Jeff, Herb and Sue will book plane tickets within a week!
Jeff and I met at the coffee shop this morning after the kids had been dropped off at school. We hugged and said nearly simultaneously, “I’m tired.” It’s not a weariness or an exhaustion. It’s a result of the mental effort required to wrap our minds around a different culture, a new way of life, a radical change that cannot be captured in words.
Several years ago, we stopped in the Appalachian mountains to hike on our way to the beach. We took only what we needed for those few hours and set out into the beauty and the unknown with no expectations except time on the trail. We stopped at a beautiful lookout to rest our legs, take in the view and catch our breath before journeying to the summit. I sit in a similar place now. I may be weary, but not at all ready to stop. I can appreciate how far we’ve come while anxious to continue the climb. I’m keenly aware that there are obstacles along the path, and that I must watch my own steps as well as my children’s, but confident that our footing is sure and our path straight.
So this weekend I will rest, taking in the view from here.
