Singing Mountains and Clapping Trees

Within the past year or so, Isaiah has quickly become one of my favorite books of the Bible, if not my very favorite. It has provided encouragement and support in countless situations. A few nights ago, I turned to chapter 55 and started reading. If you have time, read the whole chapter because it is wonderful.

But one verse stuck out to me that night. Isaiah 55:12 says, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the moutains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." As amazing as the image of trees clapping their "hands" is, I focused in on the first part of that verse.

As someone who loves to-do lists and planning (far, far in advance), it can be easy for me to dwell on the future rather than today. Most of the time, I am happy to look forward to all the things I have planned before leaving for Uganda as well as the excitement of actually going! But there is a "logical" part of me that also realizes that everything won't always be rainbows, unicorns, and butterflies all the time in Uganda. Sometimes it can be hard to find a balance between having realistic expectations and negatively dwelling on what could go wrong.

But back to the verse--I thought it fit perfectly. As I leave for Uganda, it will be an exciting and bittersweetly joyous time. When I first arrive and see those beautiful mountains, I don't think it will be hard to picture them bursting into song. But what is even better is that when those days inevitably come when the rainbow has changed to just plain old rain and the unicorns look like ugly horses, God promises his peace will lead me forth. How wonderful! God isn't sending me to Uganda with just the promise that I'll go in joy but is sending me with the additional promise that I will continue to be led forward in His gracious peace.

Stocking Up on Fireworks

I celebrated my first 4th of July in America in about three years just a few days ago. I'm not a particularly patriotic person and never really saw the 4th as a holiday that I just had to be with my family. So I wasn't upset when I got to spend it in London two years ago. I wasn't sure how Independence Day would be celebrated in the place which we Americans had defeated to gain that independence. But it was fun to see the British view of Americans as they "celebrated". The British Museum hosted a party with all things American including hot dogs and cotton candy, line dancing, and American football being played quite pathetically on the front lawn.

Last year I spent my 4th on a sand dune in Senegal. Quite a different celebration for sure! It was a fun and memorable night with sparklers and an American barbecue atop a mountain of sand. We all forgot flashlights so the hamburgers were cooked by the light of one headlamp and the full moon graciously guided us back to our cars after the festivities. The 4th landed on the week when we had our homestay. As much as I absolutely loved the women we were staying with, it was so exciting to join fellow Americans (and two Canadians and a New Zealander) to celebrate our American-ness and to speak English again rather than stumble through a conversation in Wolof!

This year was fun too in a different kind of way. I had a relaxing 4th of July weekend and didn't do much other than hang out with my parents and take a nap (or two). But, I was determined to go see some real fireworks. Family friends invited us to go along with them to a "secret location" where the show was guaranteed to be incredible. And was it ever! There were firetrucks stationed next to the field we sat in. Just in case a stray spark came over. I had never seen fireworks so close! I had to lay back in my chair to see many of them. You could feel each boom in your chest and hear the crackle. While the other spectators were mute in their awe (or maybe just weren't really that impressed), I just couldn't stop declaring how amazing the show was!

The next night we decided to also go to our local fireworks display right down the street. While it wasn't quite as awe-inspiring as the previous night's show, it was picturesque on the waterfront and reminded me of the many times we had gone when I was growing up.

I was wishing I had my camera to remember the American fireworks fun. But, I think I'll remember and I'm kind of glad I got to see it with both eyes open rather than behind a viewfinder. I'm glad I stocked up for two years worth of fireworks! I'm also so excited to see all that God has done between now and July 4, 2011. I know it is going to be amazing.