Re-Entry from Abroad

What do I say to those who return from a year in another land and culture . . . a year of new and stretching experiences . . . a year of pruning and new growth . . . who return to a place and culture that once was security and now is a place of uncertainty and strangeness? What do I say to these people -- to preserve their fervor and temper their emotions? To encourage their questions and help them cope with the silent tears of their hearts?

They need to re-acculturate. They need to speak carefully. They need to have love for both worlds. They need to believe Christ is at work in both places. And, yes, they need to always strive to reveal a more full picture of Christ and His Body to those around them. Most of all they should never be fooled into thinking that they are somehow more superior to others, but rather chosen to be God's seekers . . . seekers of how we can better be the healing hands and feet of Christ to a broken world . . . seekers of justice for all people in all lands . . . seekers of ways to live as the Kingdom in our time and generation.

Jesus, you are the Great Questioner.

Keep our questions alive,

that we may always be seekers rather than settlers.

Guard us well from the sin of settling in

with our answers hugged to our breasts.

Make of us a wondering, far-sighted,

questioning, restless people.

Give us the feet of pilgrims

on this journey unfinished.

AMEN