In the past couple of days I've been thinking about change. Well, more the past week or so. I spent last week in Germany with my old roommate and now she is here in Ankara visiting me. When I arrived in Basel (the first airport I've ever been to where I had to choose what door I went out by the country I was going to - France and Germany or Switzerland) it had been almost two years since I had seen her. Lots of good conversations about the new, about the old, about everything in between. Yesterday morning I started to get sad, knowing that our time together was drawing slowly to a close. And then tucked away I found a poem by Amy Charmichael given to me by a friend a while back - In Acceptance Lieth Peace.
He said, "I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filled again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease."
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.
He said, "I will crowd action upon action
The strife of faction
Shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that drown the fire of Manhood cease."
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavor lieth peace.
He said, "I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life's riot?
Shut my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease."
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in aloofness lieth peace.
He said, "I will submit;
I am defeated.
God hath depleated
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmuring, why will ye not cease?"
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.
He said, "I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God to-morrow
Will to His son explain."
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease.
Not vain the word, not vain.
For in Acceptance lieth peace.
I rejoice for this time we have had together to share good words, laughter, walks, coffee, Asian food, German food, Turkish food. And truly I am thankful for the reality that this one, my dear friend, I will not have to say a permanent good-bye to. I am thankful for these ones here in my adopted country who have welcomed me home. And I am thankful for all that lies ahead of me in the weeks to come. Truly, in acceptance lieth peace.
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ReplyDeletedream & do
ReplyDelete"Joseph was a supreme dreamer and at the time a supreme realist. His vision of possibilities for his own life rested upon his surrender to God and the energizing power of a Divine indwelling. While he saw the large outline in dreams, he did not fail to fill in the details in practise. He did not go to sleep in order to dream. His visions were the crowning glory of utmost activity and wakefulness of soul & mind.
He trusted God for the large purpose and plan for his life; he accepted as his part the improving of every opportunity that was offered.
Secure in his trust in what he dreamed he turned all the reverses and hardships into stepping stones toward success. And success to Joseph was not a selfish personal gain but a complete carrying out of God's great plan for his life."
As I type this out for you I re-read these words yet again and find myself needing to believe in them especially when I think about our adoption and Bek. I know that you & I are separated by distance but that is nothing for God who joins us together in this vast community of God's family.
It has been such a long time since we have written but know that you are in my heart and prayers.
Hugs,
Celeste
Hey Cathy girl...thank your for the words of encouragement. I am so glad that you came and I got to go and visit YOU!!!
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