I am back in China, if you didn't gather that already. I now have two kids, a daughter and son. I love them more than I have loved anything before. I am married to my wonderful wife and best friend. I am determined to seek the truth, learn it and live it. I believe that truth was personified in the person of Jesus Christ while he walked on earth. I am disenchanted with the normal idea of "church", but love what Jesus had set in place. People gathering together on a mission to share his story, to love one another and to love His Father who sent him. I won't pretend to be perfect, nor to I consider myself learned or even smart most of the time. But I will say again, I am determined. I want to know and follow truth, and I welcome you to join along.
Life is pretty great right now, and pretty terrible. Let me explain. First the good. Rachel and I are finding more of our purpose and uniqueness in how God has modeled us. We have been in search and question of how we are supposed to live or what can we do, and we are finally coming to conclusions. We have long time realized that it doesn't matter where we live, the same problems and questions continue to come up. How can we work together to do His work? How can I do more than just work? How can Rachel take her love for words and books and use them for His kingdom? Along with more trivial questions as well, like what does a day off look like and how do we budget our savings. But what we found recently is that after you figure the bigs one out, the little ones tend to fall into place.
Now for the bad. Man, sin, lust, pride, death and everything else in the package. Rachel's family is hurting right now. She lost an aunt a few months ago, and just lost a grandmother a few days ago. Add to that the regular problems of her family's dynamics. I don't have time to go into detail, but it is pretty messy right now. Rachel just boarded a flight to PHL this morning and will spend some time mourning for her grandmother and spend the rest dealing with sin that has crept into her family. I hate that she has to deal with both, but they often go together; sin and death.
As her husband and the guy still in China while she flies around the world, I am not sure what my role should be. They aren't my family, it wasn't my grandmother who died. But then the thought of Ruth came to mind. Here is Ruth, a woman who has been dealt an odd hand in life and plays in well. She is faithful and true, what more could God ask of her. When trial comes on her mother in-law, she is faithful and loving.
Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” -Ruth 2:10-13
I know it isn't a complete parallel, but there is still a lesson to be learned here. This is loving one another, this is faithfulness is tough situations. This is self-sacrifice played out. Rachel's family isn't my family, but they have become so. Rachel's struggles have become mine, we are one family now. I love her and her family. It hurts to see her hurt right now. And as much as we don't have money to make last minute flights around the world, I sent her like I would want her to send me. I am just so thankful that God has provided as much as He has.
Take care, seek truth and live life.
Jeremy
