Not a Given

Life has been a lot about goodbyes lately. We said goodbye to those who voluntarily retired in November. We said goodbye last week to some who raised their hands to return to the states. We also take our leaves from people who temporarily live in the capital, not knowing if we will see them again before they move.

When we left in July 2014, not knowing when or if we would return, we said goodbyes at least in our hearts. When Rich and the kids left our guest house to join me in the states, two good friends who are very much like family cried and said, "that is one family we will never see back here."  One of those women shared that with me last week. It was a reminder that our return here was not a given. Thirteen months later we said goodbyes to family back in the states to return here.

Goodbyes are part of our lives. That means hellos are too. Hellos can be so sweet and we make relationships here. Other expats here become family to us. It can be tempting to begin to feel at home here. Then life happens and we are reminded that here is not our home.

Not just Africa, not just America, but this earth is not our real home. We will never be fully at home because this is not where we belong. We can find joy and we can weep over the sorrows, but we will never fully be all that the Father has planned for us until we see Him face to face. "Face to Face" is one of my favorite Mandisa songs.

Reading lately in Exodus, I have read how Moses asked to see God's glory.  It was not possible, for no one could look on the face of God and live. Even seeing the back of God and being in His presence was enough to make Moses glow. Moses was unaware of the glow, but everyone else saw it. Can people tell I have been in the presence of the Father?

One of my favorite Family Force 5 songs is, "Glow in the Dark." Do I glow so much that people ask me to cover it a bit?

Heaven is most characterized by His presence. Am I preparing myself for Heaven by getting used to being in His presence now?