The Quirkiness of Life...

I’ve been thinking about what’s ironic in my life lately… I’m quickly coming to my end of this chapter (at least so far) of my time in Kuwait as a post Chaplain. Some things have been ‘strikin’ me funna’ ‘– when we got here no one could wait to leave (they still can’t…we have to contain the stampede) yet now there is a fondness of this place and especially the people here that I know each, in their own way, will miss and some brave few who dare to think of it, realize will never happen this way again; we truly created a unique and beautiful community here. For all the complaining, I’ve been listening to the types of things people are passing along to the ‘next generation’ – things like, ‘yeah, it’s REALLY dull here, but it’s SUCH a great place – you’re going to love it!’ and there’s still such a spirit of generosity –which so characterized us – folks have given TONS of stuff to our TCN (third Country Nationals- the workers from around the world who serve us in the camp) Drive and to each other – rich and precious store-houses of knowledge and insight into not only surviving being here, but growing and thriving… it’s been really beautiful to watch from ‘around corners.’

This place has deepened my love and experience of Jesus. It’s ironic that when I left RI 4 years ago, I was begging God to send me to the deepest desert because I wanted to die – I wanted my physical life to reflect the deadness I felt in my soul – something poetic and integrity-laden for me (having my insides and outsides match). But the Lord sent me to Denver – a desert, but not the deadest desert, not like where I am now. And I began to breathe again; began to hope, began to wish, began to dream, began to heal… again…in the high desert… from those tender shoots of fresh, renewed life God then sent me into the deepest desert – the deserts of the Middle-East – some of the most conflict-ridden, soul eating places on earth – and I found those tender shoots growing and solidifying and becoming mature and beautiful… And so, I find myself reflecting on the mysteries of God and the souls of the Desert Fathers –how God has used deserts to cleans, heal, restore and grow his people for all eternity, and now my footprints are added to the sands... que bella…

In the desert I have found a tapestry of the richest cloth I have seen to date – people and faces from EVERY place on the face of God’s multi-colored Earth – Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Hawaiian, Philippines, New Zealanders, English, American, Micronesia, Samoa, Australia, all manner of African Nations, Papua New Guinea, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Iraq and places I can’t even find on maps without Google! Many don’t speak English – but it does still seem to hold that ‘human’ still speaks to ‘human’ and a kind act or smile or tone of voice carries the weight of love any and all ways…There is a beautiful and tiny woman who cleans our living area – whenever she sees me she shyly comes up to me and gives me a hug – I haven’t seen her do this with anyone else – she speaks just a shade of English – I’ve gathered that she has a grown son who is in college or school and I think she’s from Bangladesh – I so honored and humbled that she would show me so much love…

In the desert there is a life most unusual and stunning… as in many harsh environments (be it because of economics or environment) what quickly becomes important are your relationships – you simply cannot ever afford to have enemies in your neighbors – you must make amends if you offend. You must. Your life and livelihood depend on it. This place is no different in spite of become a 1st world nation over night due to the oil; folks still spend months of their years out in tents in the desert so they won’t forget – they spend their nights in fellowship with one another over tea, coffee, hookah, and (as my Hawaiians would say) ‘talking story.’ What is beautiful here is often not what you see with the naked eye – the desert stretches on forever with very little interrupting it except for a town or power lines – what is beautiful is a soul – how one listens, the attention one gives to their host and visa versa. The quality of the interaction and even (I think) to some degree the quantity of the interaction – how much raw time is one willing to give to a friendship or new relationship? It makes me feel both anxious and inspired.

My heart is full as I go on to my next assignment. God has grown, matured and inspired me here. The death I felt as I left RI has been healed and the roots and been addressed and given over (even here more roots were taken). I have several new dear friends, one in particular has become very close and dear to my heart…so many unexpected gifts…There was a vision I had in Africa a few years ago where God was standing with joyful glee and filling my arms with gifts and he had more he wanted to give, but my arms were so full, there was no way to even balance one more, so it would have to wait. And wait it has – when I came here my arms were finally empty and open. He has placed extravagance in my arms once more…hallelujah!!

Please pray for me as I transition over the next few weeks to finish the last 6 months of my tour in Afghanistan. This will be a challenging time of change but an amazing and humbling opportunity to serve our nation’s finest in their darkest hours and one of the more scary places in the world; pray I am strong and courageous in the Lord and not afraid in any circumstance. Pray I preach the Gospel of Life and Love. Pray I reach out in the strength and hope of Jesus and not my own power. Pray Jesus is seen…