keys

This is a picture of my empty keychain. I've always had keys to something since grade school. House keys, car keys, office keys, church keys, my parent's house keys...I could go on. But since my first set of house keys at 10 or 11 years old I have never had an empty keychain.

Along with everything else in my life right now, this seems symbolic and significant. I am between homes, between jobs and between worlds. The incredible excitement I feel about this next phase of my life has only been matched by the deep sadness I feel about having said goodbye to the people and city that is so integral to who I am and what I chose to do.

That being said, I’ve had an amazing welcome from everyone here. “Open arms” doesn’t begin to describe the greeting and hospitality I have received from the moment I left the airport. It still feels a bit early to really establish a sense of routine, and I’m not sure that I’ll truly have one in the sense that I’m used to. But I’m really enjoying the things that make this place uniquely itself, and I’m finding myself feeling quite familiar and comfortable in this lovely country.

Aside from the obvious things like sorting out my work visa and getting familiar with 24-7 and the things that (once my visa is in hand) will be my job, I feel this transition time I need to reconsider some of my paradigms. One of the things I did at my last church service was to take vows of ordination. In my humble opinion that was a very weighty thing, and I want to take time to really consider the ramifications of those vows, and how this new commitment must affect my paradigm and my future actions. I see the community I’m now connecting to as one that nurtures and fosters an atmosphere conducive to this kind of contemplation and soul-searching, and there are many that I think will be a good sounding board for me in this season.

So overall I’m happy, healthy and settling in nicely. Thanks to everyone that has been praying for me, and that continue to do so. I definitely feel it and appreciate it more than I can articulate.