All of a sudden our plans have turned inside out, packed up, and bailed out. It was so sudden that spontaneity was left behind in the dust kicked up in the stampeding kerfuffle. We had expected, a bad habit I constantly indulge in, to remain here in FFC, just simply working, shirking, cooking, looking, slaving, playing, teaching, sleeping, and fulfilling all the other requisites necessary to the questionable application of time in the solar sauna of Southern India. Sit tight because the events that knocked me off my rocker cannot certainly not surprise you to some degree. This is how it was...
Just let me first explain one event that happened shortly before the happening of change. One day while perusing the library in search of simple English books to use in my English class I spied a little book of which I have heard much talked of: The Cross and the Switchblade, by Rev. David Wilkerson, who tells of how he was led by the Holy Spirit into a mission of rescuing teenagers from the filth and evil that filled the ghettos of New York City. Readind the book had a powerful affect on me and I found myself handling, weighing, and examining in my mind over and over the stories of the immense unpretentious power that comes to anyone, especially a simple humble nobody, who follows those whisperings of the Spirit. Maybe similar experiences could be mine one day. With that in mind, let us move on.
Many times thoughout the journey crossroads inescapably impose themselves us, and sometimes in the most unusual shapes and forms. Katie has been volunteering in FFC, since eight years after my earliest memory. That makes her comings here about 9 years ago, and her goings from here, slightly less than roughly nine years. Through all these years has, with her accompanying brothers, enjoyed providing activities, games, classes, friendship, love, and work for the children. It is always educational, transformational, and inspirational to devote your time and energy to a good cause. This trip has been no different, except for that feeling that it may be time to move on. We Richards have the characteristic, or habit or misfortune or call it what you will, of never staying too long in one place, and FFC has been no exception. That urge to move on, besides many other reasons, prompted us to decide, out of the "smoggy" blue sky, that the time has come to cut all permanent ties with FFC. Leaving this orphanage would irrevocably cause Katie's visa to expire on the 4th of December. Naturally our first thoughts were to go home, which kind of seemed a little anti-climatic...but what sometimes appears as a set back often is merely a switchback to take you higher. During one of my one on one sessions with God I had a half horrifying, half intriguing idea pop into my head, and later on in one of our decisive group confabulations I brought up this idea, which was the realization that Graham, Isaac, and I still had valid visas until March of next year. With our visas we could stay in India somewhere. That thought led into the observation that we could even travel around India visiting other orphanages and other charitable organizations, offering our help for however long we felt inspired to do so. With no plans, we would just traveling when we felt the Spirit give the order, going wherever we felt impressed to go, and learning to live by faith. When the idea finally settled into my brick and mortar brain, I knew it was right for me at this time, maybe my chance had come to do little more "intense" living by faith. To Graham and Isaac's consternation they found themselves faced with the crossroads of staying or saying goodbye. To my relief and joy, they decided, a day or so later after prayer and meditation, that they were going to accompany me on this step-by-step path of high adventure. After that, Mani and Arjun, another friend and young man from FFC who has already moved out, have decided they also want to come. In the matter of one week our bland planned lives self-carbonized and emerged a phoenix of uncertainty and excitement mingled with the sorrow of being bereft of Katie's energizing and uplifting presence. Unfortunately, that cannot be helped, but we will miss her sorely... I mean very sorely, for she brightens our lives and motivates us in ways she probably is not aware of (a common trait among selfless givers of self). Katie will leave for home in North Carolina on Monday evening November 25, and of course she will be home for Thanksgiving. Also, on Monday evening, we will probably head off by bus for Madras (Chennai) and who knows where we will be for Thanksgiving...I guess it does not matter as long as we are giving thanks, and we can do that anywhere! In Madras we have a couple contacts and we know of a couple orphanages there, but most importantly we feel that our first step is in that direction. How long we will stay is only known to God right now!
The moral of this story is plain as the plan we had had in place, and just about as disposable as the said plan. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail, but if you plan not to fail, your plans sometimes fail. Or so it would seem. However, in light of the past events, the moral of the story is the unfailing interest God has in each and everyone of our lives and decisions and we are capable of doing anything He asks when we surrender ourselves to him. This theme is amply supported, as well, by the book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which I heartily recommend to all.
This is the beginning of a new era for the David the Post Host, and his eternal parting words have taken on a more vivid and frightful meaning at initiation of this unscheduled future. Have patience for you nor I may never know when I will post again.
Just let me first explain one event that happened shortly before the happening of change. One day while perusing the library in search of simple English books to use in my English class I spied a little book of which I have heard much talked of: The Cross and the Switchblade, by Rev. David Wilkerson, who tells of how he was led by the Holy Spirit into a mission of rescuing teenagers from the filth and evil that filled the ghettos of New York City. Readind the book had a powerful affect on me and I found myself handling, weighing, and examining in my mind over and over the stories of the immense unpretentious power that comes to anyone, especially a simple humble nobody, who follows those whisperings of the Spirit. Maybe similar experiences could be mine one day. With that in mind, let us move on.
Many times thoughout the journey crossroads inescapably impose themselves us, and sometimes in the most unusual shapes and forms. Katie has been volunteering in FFC, since eight years after my earliest memory. That makes her comings here about 9 years ago, and her goings from here, slightly less than roughly nine years. Through all these years has, with her accompanying brothers, enjoyed providing activities, games, classes, friendship, love, and work for the children. It is always educational, transformational, and inspirational to devote your time and energy to a good cause. This trip has been no different, except for that feeling that it may be time to move on. We Richards have the characteristic, or habit or misfortune or call it what you will, of never staying too long in one place, and FFC has been no exception. That urge to move on, besides many other reasons, prompted us to decide, out of the "smoggy" blue sky, that the time has come to cut all permanent ties with FFC. Leaving this orphanage would irrevocably cause Katie's visa to expire on the 4th of December. Naturally our first thoughts were to go home, which kind of seemed a little anti-climatic...but what sometimes appears as a set back often is merely a switchback to take you higher. During one of my one on one sessions with God I had a half horrifying, half intriguing idea pop into my head, and later on in one of our decisive group confabulations I brought up this idea, which was the realization that Graham, Isaac, and I still had valid visas until March of next year. With our visas we could stay in India somewhere. That thought led into the observation that we could even travel around India visiting other orphanages and other charitable organizations, offering our help for however long we felt inspired to do so. With no plans, we would just traveling when we felt the Spirit give the order, going wherever we felt impressed to go, and learning to live by faith. When the idea finally settled into my brick and mortar brain, I knew it was right for me at this time, maybe my chance had come to do little more "intense" living by faith. To Graham and Isaac's consternation they found themselves faced with the crossroads of staying or saying goodbye. To my relief and joy, they decided, a day or so later after prayer and meditation, that they were going to accompany me on this step-by-step path of high adventure. After that, Mani and Arjun, another friend and young man from FFC who has already moved out, have decided they also want to come. In the matter of one week our bland planned lives self-carbonized and emerged a phoenix of uncertainty and excitement mingled with the sorrow of being bereft of Katie's energizing and uplifting presence. Unfortunately, that cannot be helped, but we will miss her sorely... I mean very sorely, for she brightens our lives and motivates us in ways she probably is not aware of (a common trait among selfless givers of self). Katie will leave for home in North Carolina on Monday evening November 25, and of course she will be home for Thanksgiving. Also, on Monday evening, we will probably head off by bus for Madras (Chennai) and who knows where we will be for Thanksgiving...I guess it does not matter as long as we are giving thanks, and we can do that anywhere! In Madras we have a couple contacts and we know of a couple orphanages there, but most importantly we feel that our first step is in that direction. How long we will stay is only known to God right now!
The moral of this story is plain as the plan we had had in place, and just about as disposable as the said plan. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail, but if you plan not to fail, your plans sometimes fail. Or so it would seem. However, in light of the past events, the moral of the story is the unfailing interest God has in each and everyone of our lives and decisions and we are capable of doing anything He asks when we surrender ourselves to him. This theme is amply supported, as well, by the book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which I heartily recommend to all.
This is the beginning of a new era for the David the Post Host, and his eternal parting words have taken on a more vivid and frightful meaning at initiation of this unscheduled future. Have patience for you nor I may never know when I will post again.
