In The Rapids

Initially I named this blog "Crossing 4 Rivers" because traveling to Zapote requires one to cross four rivers in a vehicle (there are no bridges). Yet, I am beginning to see how this title runs so much deeper. The transitions, the changes, the steps of faith, and crossing into an entirely different culture all tie into this title.

Today was the first day of official classwork at Intercultural Training and we talked about transitions. As missionaries, we are all in various phases of transitions. Many of us are selling homes or cars, we are having to say "goodbye" to friends and family, we have had to resign from jobs to prepare to move overseas, and we realize that we are in the midst of a myriad of changes. To say our lives are in a period of transition is an understatement. I received a lot of affirmation today to accept the transition phase as "ok" and to realize that much of what I am feeling is "normal", but I wanted to share something that really stuck out to me today that can apply to so many of our lives.

As the teacher was speaking, he began to use the metaphor of a river as opposed to an ocean (appropriate to this blog.. right?!!). He explained that sometimes transitions are more like crossing an ocean than a raging river. Sometimes it's a long but somewhat smooth process. Sometimes you ebb and flow with the tide and you just float along until you reach the shore. However, sometimes it is quite the opposite. Sometimes we are in the midst of the rapids and we feel torn from all directions and unsure of the direction or even if we are going to make it to the next "lull" in the river. We are struggling to just keep our head above the water and draw the next breath to survive. Then, the teacher said something that really hit home for me. He said, "What if time in the river is building muscles that aren't built on the shore?". Think about that for a moment. Sometimes we have to go through the rapids, through the transitions, through the barely keeping our heads above the water because God is building something in us that can not be developed on the shore. It is in the hardest moments in life, when we don't think we can hold on any longer, that God meets us where we are and helps carry us that extra step or two to get us to where we can "touch bottom" again. It is when we cannot do anything else in our own strength that there is room for Him to come in and work in us. It is in the rapids that we learn to depend on Him to carry us through things that we cannot conquer on our own.

So, maybe you are in the midst of rapids today. Maybe you're like me and in the midst of so many transitions that you are just "holding on" and seeing what comes next. Take comfort. Being in "transition" is ok. In the meantime, you are building muscles that can not be built while you're standing on the shore.

I thank you for taking time to read my blog. I am excited about the journey that God is taking me on as I prepare to head to Guatemala in January. 

Blessings,
Meaghen