Wednesday, February 07, 2007

My Heart: Here and There, Part 2


So you might want to read the post below to make sense of this but...

I had lunch today with about 50 other women who gather monthly to pray for people who are working for good around the world. I love these ladies. Most of them are in their 70's and 80's, and some of them are younger. I spoke at their gathering last month and felt their love as I always do when I'm with them.

Today Jean Gill spoke. She and her husband lived in Japan for 27 years and they care a great deal for that country. But her heart expands beyond that one experience and when she spoke of the situation in Cambodia, she cried.

There were 7 of us at our table and 5 of us were international people. There was Marcie who was raised in Japan and then went with her doctor husband (and their kids) to Nepal for a few years to care for those with leprosy. One woman grew up in S. America, another in Taiwan.

Here we were, a group of women who have lived all over, all with hearts broken for peoples and lands far from this place. Quite suddenly it dawned on me: These international people whose lives have been interrupted (and a little messed up) by needs that moved them to action in far-flung places, these are my people. I was overcome by a feeling I rarely have... among them I felt at home.

We were together for lunch, united by the fact that our hearts are here and there. I literally felt the hair on my arms stand up. What a privilege to be counted among this tribe.

By the way, Portugal beat Brazil today 2-0. This international lady is very happy!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is something~ that can't be explained~ in that global community. Thanks for writing that.
~Linda

Anonymous said...

Lisa- I just love when the Holy Spirit causes the hair on your arms to stand. You don't have to go to Fuller to understand the Holy Spirit when He tingles from within! Amazing when and how He stirs us to acknowledge Him.

Anonymous said...

Sue, just to say that there is something about your wonderful way that makes me totally at home in your company as well. You are a treasure!

Anonymous said...

VIVA PORTUGAL! i cant believe they beat brazil!!!! hahahhahaha woooohoooo!!!!!
ole ole ole ole! ole! ole!

but on another note...i have been feeling that bitter sweet feeling of not knowing where i am from so much in the past two days. not intensly, just like i can feel that itch under my skin to get on a plain...a little ache for somewhere other than here.
like the words of a counting crows song says:
i want to" take a holiday in spain...
leave my wings behind me...
drink my worries down the drain...
fly away to somewhere new."

though to me this obviously means portugal and not spain...
and drinking a nice cup of wine (moderately of corse!) but just the idea of going somewhere and leaving my wings behind for a while sounds nice.
love you!

Carrie said...

Just reading the past two posts made my heart hurt a little bit. Jesse, that itch will always be under your skin and the Lord can use it tremendously. On the days I want to be somewhere other than here, I pray for all of you who have the privelege of BEING somewhere other than here. Despite all the heartache involved, I praise the Lord that I am an international woman.

Rebecca said...

Arrgh...my international heart..I wish I had such a group to relate to!