[Almost] Back For Another Year

It seems that in the last few weeks there's been a sudden push for me to start blogging again, so this is my attempt. I'm kind of hoping that with this, I'll spare many from my "book-long" update emails that come sporadically throughout the year.

That said, I'm back in Hong Kong spending my last week before school visiting and celebrating the end of an AMAZING year with great friends. This summer has been FULL. Full of revelations and realizations of God's amazing work. Full of refreshment and reunions with wonderful friends. Full of stressors and emotions. Mostly, I'm thankful that it's been a summer full of blessings. Perhaps at some point I'll get more into detail about those blessings.

At the moment, I'm sitting in the 21st floor living room of two amazing people who stepped into my life at some point in the past year and were kind enough to let me crash with them for a few days for no other reason than to just hang out together, looking out over the inlet where rowers are busy staying in shape, and can't help but be amazed at the feeling of excited anxiousness that comes from knowing that I'm a mere 8hr bus ride away from home. As wonderful as it was to be with family over the last two months, my heart has longed to be back in Xiamen. Many have asked, "what is it about [Xiamen] that you love so much?" My answer, in some form, is always "the community." But a better word there would really be "church." A. W. Tozer is quoted for saying, 

“One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.“  

I hear people complain about church all the time, and I confess, I have often been one of those unhappy participants who complains about a thing that I cannot make sense of. The church as it is known today, simply does not wield the power it was purposed for. And a thing that does not seek it's potential, finds itself floundering hopelessly with little pity from outsiders. When I say that what I love about being in Xiamen is the church, I don't mean that overly misunderstood group of believers who meet once a week to make themselves feel better and who possibly reach out to the less fortunate around town. What I mean is the body of believers who are willing to be open and honest about life - about pains and hurts, struggles and joys. People who are willing to be transparent daily and not just when it's convenient. 

Please don't misunderstand this to be an anger-filled rant against the church. There's a beauty that comes naturally from the Church when it's purpose is being accomplished. This Body was not meant to simply go through the motions and "do the right thing," we were meant to do life together, and in doing so, show others our love for Christ by our love for each other (John 13:35). My attachment to Xiamen is not so much about any particular person or entity as much as it is about being connected to the work that God is doing through those who are, quite simply, doing life with God. 

I came across a wonderful quote not too long ago that I have a new depth of appreciation for: 

" The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou 

I love what has transpired during my time in Xiamen over the last year. I've found a home that soothes that ache for eternity. And while I have no clue what will transpire over this next year in Xiamen, I have peace in the fact that I know I rest safely in His arms at all times, and that He has NEVER left me alone.