It's been more than a week since I left Germany and almost a full week since I left Debrief at Indianapolis and let me tell you it has been a tough week. As I look at the Summer and what God has done both through my own brokenness and the people around me I am left in awe that a God so big would use someone like me...and yet here we are.
Trying to adjust to everyone speaking English fluently, large grocery stores that intimidate me, and small town life in Washington (I still have two weeks until school starts) is not easy. It reminds me of my first few weeks in Germany, I felt like an outsider. I didn't know the lifestyle or the language or the fact that grocery store clerks generally don't talk to you a lot (that led to some awkward situations). It is a bit overwhelming because I never thought that I would be bored of life in America. It's like all of my life I have had this stamp across my heart that says "America" on it. I can't say that anymore because on my heart there are three stamps, "America", "Germany", and "Mexico" (Spring break trip). I love being back here in America but I also think that a part of me (albeit a tiny part) will always be with my friends in beautiful Tubingen.
I suppose that is good though that I feel this way towards Germany. In my heart it will always be a beautiful memory of growing through the brokenness, seeing myself the way that God sees me, and becoming friends with some of the best people in the world. I suppose each of the interns this summer would feel that way though. Whether they were with me in Tubingen, Mexico City, Nairobi, Chiang Mai, or elsewhere, each of these countries has left a tiny imprint on our hearts in such a way that we can no longer view the world through the eyes of an American. We have to see the world as God sees it, one big world filled with people that he loves.
It is kind of liberating really with a load of responsibility. We are free to see the world the way God sees the world, with love and urgency. Love because each and every person in the world needs freedom, freedom from ourselves and from our sinful natures. Urgency because there are so many people who don't know that freedom. This is a verse that is kind of cliche...but that doesn't make it any less true. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the food news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns" (Isaiah 52:7). I showed love in Germany, now I have to show love in America...I guess its time for the next adventure.
Until Next Time,
Jacob Bush
Trying to adjust to everyone speaking English fluently, large grocery stores that intimidate me, and small town life in Washington (I still have two weeks until school starts) is not easy. It reminds me of my first few weeks in Germany, I felt like an outsider. I didn't know the lifestyle or the language or the fact that grocery store clerks generally don't talk to you a lot (that led to some awkward situations). It is a bit overwhelming because I never thought that I would be bored of life in America. It's like all of my life I have had this stamp across my heart that says "America" on it. I can't say that anymore because on my heart there are three stamps, "America", "Germany", and "Mexico" (Spring break trip). I love being back here in America but I also think that a part of me (albeit a tiny part) will always be with my friends in beautiful Tubingen.
I suppose that is good though that I feel this way towards Germany. In my heart it will always be a beautiful memory of growing through the brokenness, seeing myself the way that God sees me, and becoming friends with some of the best people in the world. I suppose each of the interns this summer would feel that way though. Whether they were with me in Tubingen, Mexico City, Nairobi, Chiang Mai, or elsewhere, each of these countries has left a tiny imprint on our hearts in such a way that we can no longer view the world through the eyes of an American. We have to see the world as God sees it, one big world filled with people that he loves.It is kind of liberating really with a load of responsibility. We are free to see the world the way God sees the world, with love and urgency. Love because each and every person in the world needs freedom, freedom from ourselves and from our sinful natures. Urgency because there are so many people who don't know that freedom. This is a verse that is kind of cliche...but that doesn't make it any less true. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the food news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns" (Isaiah 52:7). I showed love in Germany, now I have to show love in America...I guess its time for the next adventure.Until Next Time,
Jacob Bush
No comments:
Post a Comment