There are some things that I cannot explain... and one of them is the passing of time. I cannot fully comprehend how time can pass so quickly and yet, each moment is full and lasting. Yeah, like I said I cannot explain it to you or even to myself for that matter.
Tomorrow (actually today) 39 American college students will flood Tokyo airport customs with eager anticipation of nine weeks set before them (pray for david who is bringing flour through... suspicious packages and it reminds me of when MJ's aunt sent dog chow but that's another lifetime)...
and yet, it seems like just yesterday....
As hard as I try, these past few days or so, I cannot stop the memories from flooding my memory. Everything reminds me of something, everyone of someone else... I think I see people in the faces all around me... I cannot believe my dear friend Saaya has never met Ryan, Mike, Christy or the SIJ team from 2006...
aren't all my memories and all my Japan moments from one moment?
I sat in the car today and cried as I thought about how stinkin' fast this time has gone... Jennifer was in the laundromat (laundrAmat?) and I was thinking about two summers ago. How Ryan, Mike and Christy lost their luggage (or the airline lost it, I should say) and I thought, "If that were to happen to someone it would be Ryan and Mike." And through my tears I laughed at how they wore those SIJ t-shirts continuously. Ew.
I think of all the things I have learned the past two years and I am overwhelmed. Is it possible that 5 Aspects bible study was here? My fall of falling in love with Jesus and Mary's silly life goals? Were those all here? When we drove to Kyoto, danced Thriller, backpacked like homeless, ate 31 flavors of ice cream, ate Italian pasta even though I knew I shouldn't, went to the doctor 3 times in one year, new roommates and moving out...
How in this season of life I've experienced many people "leaving"... visitors, summer teams, friends... but now it's my turn. I'm not used to being the one to leave and I would rather be left. I think.
Anyway, it's almost 2AM, my workshop is finished (mark, did you read that?) and I am about to fall asleep... so that I can wake up to SIJ 2008... did I really just write that?
Yes, yes I did.
Aw, time.
4 comments:
time passing on this side of the pacific is impossible to believe, too.
what a blessing that your time in Japan has been and will so full! I'm glad I had a part!
and that you'll soon be a part of our region! :D
ha..I can imagine you having a hard time believing that right now too. But I know you will faithfully take every path that the Lord leads you on. He'll always hold you and comfort you in your sadness, and fear, and inability to express things, as well as the joy. He doesn't need you to explain exactly how you feel because He already knows, and will always welcome the chance to show His awesome love to those who are transitioning to a new place in their walk with Him. Be excited for all the love He has in store!
...sometimes I can't believe I haven't met Saaya either!
love you Jo!
I agree with you and Christy.
4 years of college. Gone.
Although, there are some things I'm not very sad about passing. Like the time Ryan and I didn't have any clothes in Japan.
"What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."
Time may be fleeting ... and with it, the "everything that is beautiful in its time".
But "that 'everything' (that) God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it."
You will find it all again; none of it will be lost. But it will bear a weight of glory that you will hardly believe, though you gaze and wonder at what He made of it - brief as it has seemed to you here and now - but then, when time is no more to keep you from it.
i love your heart. i'm a big fan of you, joanna! praying for you...
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