Creating Space to Breathe

In coming back to the States, one of our main objectives was to create some space to breathe. Living in Bundibugyo can sometimes feel like living in a pressure cooker  (I know, you've heard that before...), which then makes coming back to the US feel like an explosive bottle of champagne at a New Years Eve party. December was that explosive bottle of champagne- excitement, exuberance, "feasting on the fattened calf" so to speak. We all have noticed a tightening of the waist line recently, and no doubt that is attributed to all the feasting (both literally and figuratively) we did over the holidays.

But enjoying the goodness of life in the US was only part of our objective in coming home. The other part was the intentional "checking-out" from everyday distractions and "checking-in" to a safe place for the Lord to speak to our hearts. Some of the ways we did this was through avoiding social media and the pressure I put on myself to regularly blog about our life (sorry to the people that have missed our online presence). We attempted {fairly well} to protect family time and not overcommit ourselves with social engagements. And then we set aside time to get away, intensely seek outside council to help us do the hard work of debriefing and processing our first year in Uganda, and invite the Lord into directing our future in serving Him.

And guess what? We created space, and He showed up! On second thought, not exactly good theology there (although I wish it were true...) Allow me to re-phrase:
We realized that He was always there and has been patiently waiting for us to show up. 
(And of course we are kicking ourselves for not showing up sooner...) 

We could not have had a better experience than what we did at Marble Retreat Center. It was a safe place, with two other couples (now lifelong friends), and with two counselors to just hash through the griefs and hurts and sorrows of life...as well as laugh and be silly and just let loose. God was tender to us, but met us where we were, and spoke to us in very direct ways. Do we have it all figured out? Of course not. But we have our horizons expanded in ways we never could have imagined before, and we have courage to take steps that we never considered before.

And so, the takeaway that I am bringing back home with me is this: 

God speaks to the listening heart, 

and He grants the desires of the heart that seeks Him. 

I had God-breathed desires in me that until now I didn't even realize I had. It took us removing the daily distractions, intentionally peeling back vulnerable layers of our heart, and asking the Lord to make something with the empty hands that we had to offer Him. As difficult as that was for us (and believe me- it was an exercise!), that is all that He asks... 

To draw near to Him so that 
we can hear the crispness of His still, quiet voice. 

It really is not that complicated. 

(I don't know why I make it more so than what it is!)  

The simplicity of creating space is what actually drives my hope for 2015- that we would believe that He is capable of things beyond our imagination, that He is willing to grant the deepest desires of our heart, and that He is strong enough to direct our wandering hearts back to Him. 

Will you pray that for us this year? 

Your prayers have carried this family to Uganda and back,
and we need them in returning again.