It has been a while since I updated this blog. I have been thinking a lot about how to communicate openly realizing that there are many audiences with differing world views reading what I say. There are people who love us and get us. There are people who don't know us and don't understand our faith in God. There are people who aren't interested in anything other than controversy...Knowing that they are all reading brings to mind the saying of Jesus: We need to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves".
As we prepare to leave our home in the US, there are conflicting feelings. Joy at the prospect of new work to do; new people to meet; a language to humble me. Then there is the separation: from family, long-time friends, and the familiar.
The biggest concern on my mind right now is my desire to protect and guide my daughters. At the time of this writing, both are planning to stay stateside as we go, so that puts an added emphasis to make sure we are connected and grounded even if we are an ocean apart. As a dad, I believe it is my God-given privilege and responsibility to be the man in my daughters' lives until I give them to the man that God has to be their husband. So how do I protect and guide from afar? That IS the question.
The call to serve Him over their is not a pass to serve Him in my family. The call to serve Him IN my family, is the foundation or prerequisite to serve Him elsewhere. So I need a great deal of wisdom and dialogue. I need to understand what my girls need from me. I need to look ahead to avoid the hazards that surely are there. I need to communicate regularly with them. Pray for me.
