africa

it's a place. a continent. that i didn't give much thought to before.
but, in the last couple years it has become something to me.
the thing is, i'm not sure WHAT it has become. except that i think about it all the time.

and it follows me everywhere.

a couple weeks ago these 3 things happened in the SAME week:
*i randomly bought a book at a consignment sale for a dollar. had NO idea what it was about. but, hey, a $1 book - sure. well, i started to read it and it, of course, takes place in Africa: The Poisonwood Bible (i lOVED the book, by the way! it's not a "Christian" book - but it's about a missionary family that moves to the Congo. very interesting.)
*i bought Michael W Smith's new CD "A New Hallelujah". get in the car. put the CD in. and an African beat starts. yup. the African Children's Choir singing WITH MWS.
*then...the season premiere of 24. opening scene. this season is in Africa. right. of course it is.

when i do my Firm workouts, there's a big map of the world on the wall in that room. i will study Africa while i'm doing the squats or whatever.

but i have never set foot in Africa.
i really have no idea why it's become a "passion" of mine.
there are tons of issues: orphans, AIDS, lack of clean water....just to name a few.
yes, i think we should help them where we can (give to clean water! :-))
but i'm not convinced that we (meaning "the US") has all the best answers.
we can't just go in and "fix" them.
i think a lot of them know God in a more real way than we ever will. and i wouldn't take that away from them for anything.
i'm not sure what all this means.
i have no "conclusion" to this post.
just sharing my journey.

i don't know where it will end.
maybe just continuing to give money for clean water.
maybe we'll go on a missions trip there as a family.
maybe we'll adopt.
i have no idea.

but i won't stop praying, thinking, pondering til i know.
and i know that God will make it clear in His time.

from The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver:
"When I want to take God at his word exactly, I take a peep out the window at His Creation. Because that, darling, He makes fresh for us every day, without a lot of dubious middle managers."

"You can't just sashay into the jungle aiming to change it all over to the Christian style without expecting the jungle to change you right back."

"If it was as easy as they thought it was going to be, why, they'd be done by now, and Africa would look just like America with more palm trees."

and my favorite:
"The way I see Africa, you don't have to like it but you sure have to admit it's out there."

oh, i'm admitting it's out there.
and, without me ever stepping foot on it, it's in my blood somehow.
one day i'll know why...