November, 2002 Honiara
The Irony—
When I left my family to come to the Solomons,
I wept.
When I left the Solomons to return to my family,
I wept.
There are pieces of my heart
Everywhere
But somehow, I am whole and well
And thankful.
Thanksgiving Day, 2002
Honiara
Isaiah 43:1-4
But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says, Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel. I gave Egypt and Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for your freedom, as your ransom. Others died that you might live; I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me and honored and I love you.
How true that in this year of fire and flood,
We have not been burned,
We have not been drowned;
Immanuel,
God with us.