Gazing at my calendar I realize that I've officially passed the six month mark. On the list of "countries in which I have spent the most time" my current country now ranks 4th. This somehow feels significant but I can't quite put my finger on why. If things go according to plan this country will eventually rank 3rd. I'm having one of those moments were I need to remember what I value in life. The word community drifts through my mind. I definitely value community and it's a big reason for why I'm here but there is one thing I value even more and that is the quality of permanence. I ponder how the lessons I value the most are those that come from role models that have been in my life for years. I value the blessing of seeing exemplary people face life day after day, week to week, month by month and year on year. I do learn from all observations, but it's the outliers, the people who are extraordinarily good at loving others consistently that I dwell on and that have the heaviest footprint on my life. I want to be one of them.
How can I be one of them when I have only committed to two years in this country? It's not that what I'm doing doesn't matter but permanence is of more value than transition, especially when it comes to community. There is peace. I can't be everybody's consistent ever-present role model. I have committed to just two years in this place but I have committed my whole life to being like Jesus. My prayer is that as I live my life in this way others will be impacted as I have been. I might end up staying in this place and the people who are currently around me could benefit from my presence and how I choose to live my life or I could move on. As long as I'm living my life in a way that seeks to honor God I'm sure I'll have a positive impact on the people around me and especially those who stick with me through my travels.