Stepping Stones Walking around Willisau, Switzerland...with this reminder resonating in my spirit & a big smile on my face...OUR TIMES ARE IN HIS HANDS...how very neat of God to surprise me with this stop watch & Peter's name..right in the middle...I guess you could call it a 'WINK from God'....sort of a 'I'm watching over you...in case you've forgotten'....I don't think I am such a patient person...I can't wait to shout from the rooftops...'I HAVE A FARM IN AFRICA'...(that's my favorite scene in 'Out of Africa'...where Meryl Streep acting the role of Baroness von Bliksen...says with that haunting Danish accent...'I have a farm in Africa...at the foot of the Ngong Hills'...I used to play that scene over and over again...something about it, the way she said it...sent longing thru my spirit...I could rave on and on about my favorite scenes..but then I would be digressing, going off on a rabbit trail once again... Back to patience...sigh...triple sigh...I wanted this all to move just a little bit faster...to have all the loose ends tied neatly in a bow...to be able to see the BIG PICTURE become a reality... We were doing all that was in our hands to do...the fact remained...more we couldn't do...we just had to TRUST...listen & obey... Wandering along...I took a side alley, and I 'stumbled' across a table setting for two...casually set on the sidewalk..the backs of the chairs, had a carved heart shape in the middle... Another reminder was about to drop into my spirit.... As I walked around it, I noticed that if I stood at a certain angle...haha right in front of the chair...I could see stepping stones in the pavement....just a few...not the whole picture... and once again I was reminded of a word of wisdom that a friend had for us...when Peter & I went to see them, to share of our dream and vision for South Africa back in March... While 'listening'...our friend saw a picture of Jesus walking in front of us...and in his hand was a bag of bread...and every so often he would drop a crumb for us to pick up...and she heard...'as long as we follow behind him...we will be able to pick up the crumbs....one crumb at a time.... one step at a time...stepping stones... It also reminded me of the stepping stones that I saw tens years ago...that I have mentioned earlier...the three places/homes...first the small 3 bedroom home that led to the 9 bedroom home that we are now in...to the next step...the vision that I saw...of the huge oval shaped building..multi purpose, multi-cultural, and the bungalows or chalets scattered around on a huge piece of land... what we believe is to be Beyond the Moon....stepping stones... Words imprinted in my heart & spirit... It's difficult to follow at times...to not try and fill in the blanks with actions, thoughts & words... What the heart is full of....the mouth speaks..is'nt that true? At the conference we have talked enthusiastically with interested young people, some of them, ones who have lived with us for a term back in Canada..so friends...All of them were captivated by our excitement, vision and enthusiasm...and many many want to come, some for their holiday to help restore, work etc.. And in my own quiet times...I have thought much over the consequences of our/my actions...how will it be, to begin over new again...new country, new culture, totally new environment..from surburbia to farmland...We will be just as far away from our children & grand children, than we are now...as far as distance goes...just on the other side of the pond ...(a plus point...the same timeline)....so NO JET LAG when we arrive..that thought brings a BIG SMILE to my face!! It's not that I haven't done this before...leave country, family & friends..when I moved from New Guinea to Australia...after 19 years...and from Australia to the Netherlands where I became we...and we were there for 25 years...and now Canada..where we are in our 11th year...contemplating and moving towards a move to Africa... stepping stones..one step at a time... |
