My apologies again for the gap between posts. I really will get better. South Africa has always been one backdrop in my life that has provided a great deal of personal growth and learning. The last month and a half have proved to be some of the most enjoyable weeks of my life, filled with realizations and epiphanies galore. Yesterday I spent 3 hours in the presence of my Xhosa brothers and sisters during a church service in Thembalethu. As I enjoyed the vibrant and celebratory worship of the moment, my eyes welled up with gratitude as I re-lived a similar moment from years past. I am living a life that I've dreamed about for years, and smiling to myself that I was given this chance. When I wake, I rise to the sight and sound of waves crashing on the shore. Throughout my day, I am embraced by beautiful and genuine people from numerous cultures and countries. When I check my email, I am encouraged by friends and family who are loving, supportive, and more of a blessing than I could ever ask for. I am also surrounded by a solid community of friends here in George. When I go to sleep, I bid my goodnight to four stellar roommates who are walking the same uncertain journey as me. But most of all, I am thankful to live in the dynamic and transformational power of knowing God through Jesus Christ. I know that I'm fairly subtle with my faith in many scenarios, but Christianity is easily the most vital and life-giving part of my existence. In actuality, it is not an aspect of my life at all, but encompasses all that I am and could ever hope to be. My prayer and hope in coming to South Africa was to allow the power of a life with Christ become real in my heart and not just my mind. Thankfully, that is happening slowly but surely. So here I sit, over 2 years after my first visit to South Africa. Between those two linear points in the history of time, the pieces of my life have fallen apart to the point of collapse. It now seems that those pieces are finding there way back to each other, fused together in the careful hands of a surprising God.
5 comments:
im glad you credited me thief
Jeff, I remember when we first started hanging out 4 years ago you told me you knew you wanted to live in South Africa someday. I assumed you had been there before and had some sort of life changing experience with the place - but you were like, "nope, never been." And I was like - "dude then what the hell are you talking about." (well, it's what I said on the inside) but now you're freakin' doing it man - you are literally living your dreams. Life with Jesus is nuts. What a blast.
I can totally relate. For my entire life I dreamed of spending evenings with my grandma on Kauai watching really really crappy Japanese TV every night - just as I am doing now.
Also, big ups to you Tyler Workman because every time I want to make an insensitive comment after Jeff's really serious outpouring of his soul, I know I'm never alone.
I bet you still smell funny Jeff.
i love you jeff. you are a great encouragement to me and i'm glad you are having such a wonderful experience. i am truly excited for the ways in which you are connecting with God and understanding what a life with Christ looks like. keep up the blogs, i enjoy them.
oh heffy i love you and all your doing to get me and ian to south africa. lovelove
I kind of feel like my times in South Africa have put my soul back together in ways I never knew it was rent...oh yeah, and torn it up in ways I never expected. I feel priviledged to have been with you in that first experience in Thembalethu, that powerful expression of the glory and grace of God and the wholeness He desires in His community. SEE YOU IN AFRICA, BROTHER! :-)
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