Thank You

Today the weather in Phoenix, Arizona is “moody” – cold, breezy, and overcast. As the sun begins to set the sky has varied hues of purple, orange, and pink. As is usual for me in this kind of weather I become reflective. I am reflecting on how much I already miss Cambodia. It is in only a very small part that I miss the Country, the place, of Cambodia. In fact, if I had gone to Cambodia for a touristy type of vacation I probably would not be missing Cambodia at all. But what I miss so much about Cambodia are the new friends I now have there; friends who in one month have contributed so much to my life. They have helped me to think more deeply, to serve more readily, to love more freely, to laugh more easily, to pray more often and more honestly, to live more fully but with less clutter, and to give more generously. I am also now more grateful for many things that before going to Cambodia I just assumed were the norm for everyone - simple things like drinkable tap water and clean air. I wish to say thank you for all you are doing in service to God and for how each of you have contributed to my life – as you have to so many others lives as well. I am grateful!

Today, as I stumbled around the office in a sleep deprived state, I was still able to comprehend all the gracious welcomes from my colleagues. It was encouraging to me to see them again and to hear from so many that they followed this blog. 

There really are amazing people in every part of this world.

This morning I knelt before the cross that hangs on my bedroom wall. It is a simple handmade cross that I wove together from branches of the tree beside my home - a reminder of my personal complicity in Jesus' death and a personal closeness and intimacy to the cross. I went from kneeling before the cross to lying down before it. I then turned off the light of the lamp in my bedroom and noticed that in the guest room off to my right there was sunlight streaming out from underneath the guest room door. This reminded me that Jesus Christ is risen and alive in places that I cannot see. He is risen and alive in Cambodia and in America, in Egypt and in Switzerland. This thought brought a level of peace to my heart.