Living for the Other...

The air here is thin and you suck it in in long deep breaths fearing that you might be getting the last of it. So my new teammates found out quicker than they imagined they would.

And somehow, perhaps the idea of becoming a vapor is the most accurate way to describe arrival in Lhasa. All the bowel clenching fears of ruin and brokenness and isolation dissolve into mist leaving only a dull, elusive ache.

It only takes one conversation with Mr. Wu, one visit to the office showered with sweet milk tea and Tibetan conversation, one newly met English teacher, one bag of miscellaneous fruit, one offer of help, one text from a student demanding tea at the earliest opportunity, one glass of tea from a neighbor who is more like an uncle I never had, one meat dumpling with fat squirting onto the receptive table beneath, one teary hug from a sister, one free bag of oranges from the grocery family who remain mystified that I still can't speak Chinese, one giggly grin hug from a beggar child who wipes her runny nose by rubbing her entire face with the tissue, one hour of rest, one honest conversation, one day back filled with far more than one of all of those things to understand that hopelessness, despair, and fear vanish... evaporate before joy.

May this be a year of evaporation.

"For the best eatin," said the withered old man as he rocked in his chair on a creaky wooden porch and a squirrel rustled a nearby tree, "there ain't no drive thru."


Rolling hills, humid days, thick forests, sweet tea, sweeter fellowship...
You can't drive through that.

And even if you could, there ain't one.

I have never been so blessed to be so inadequate to describe something: below lies a failed attempt for you...


There is something beautiful about words that are too flimsy and cheap to hold the goodness that you have received. There is something powerful that grips your soul and makes your heart race when faced with that kind of beauty.
We serve an Ephesians 3:20 Savior.

Words that sound like the very voice that spoke creation into existence make you want to drop on your knees and never get back up. Facedown is the truest and most meaningful position of mankind.
The Spirit is evident in you.

And you want to speak and never stop because there's never enough to say in gratitude and evidence of Him but you often find yourself speechless instead. And somewhere in that gap that would require everything to fill you find fullness.
Come and listen all who fear Him and I will tell what He has done for me.

Instead of fear and pain there is a place set for you. Instead of exhaustion and despair a banquet has been prepared. Instead of loneliness, a home.
We love you.

Whatever happened to that doubt? Where is that defeated one? How did he ever look so strong? I am clothed with peace and my eyes shaded by joy, my mouth filled with the sweetest honey.
I can't remember one single regret in serving Him only and trusting His hand.

There is not enough room in one soul to praise, nothing vast enough to hold it all. The thing that is really broken is just you, shattered by blessing.
I be happy when He comes in here and busts up my plans.

It's not about worth, it's not about anything done. Unnameable that something that has changed but suddenly tear drops look like sunbeams and the earth resounds with light.
Love has paved the way for grace.

Your pulse aligns with praise and breathing with blessing and you catch yourself just muttering "amen and amen"...
Oh I know He is Jehovah Jireh.

Tingly.
You know He's good when just looking at His glory will kill you.

Every thought bursts with truth and speckles each moment like a disco ball spinning in a darkened room. Gone are the days filled with desperation, empty pleas, hopeless wishes, distracted frustration, stress, evil, hate... Gone.
We went through fire and water, but You brought us out to abundance.

Fire and water yes... but abundance, You gave it to me and I'll refuse no longer.
Even the raindrops are smiling.