“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” Robert Frost
Here I sit in the Adventures In Missions headquarters in Gainseville, GA getting ready for Real Life training camp for my Kenya trip. Over the last few days, I have observed that the most common question people ask before a big trip is “Are you ready?” Does anyone ever have an answer for that? Better yet, why does it matter? Even if I wasn’t, I would still leave at the same time. My godly friend, Scott Johnson, noted the other day that no matter your gifting or handicap, wealth or poverty, importance or insignificance, time ticks by at the exact same speed. No one can bribe it. No one can appeal to it. No one can intimidate it. It is constantly and totally unbiased. We have no control over it.
In my observations of going-away-conversing, I have also noticed that the most common statement is “Have a safe trip.” Not like anyone plans to have a trip full of danger and injury. Actually, some people may. Regardless, even if you do all you can, how much control do you really have over your safety? Just like time, life and death comes at everyone without bias or mercy. Once again, no control. And what would happen if I were to be greatly injured or even die? What happens when the unexpected happens? In three words: It goes on.
I was recently asked by a friend how I was able to spend 11 months away from home and comfort engulfed in surrender. I responded, “How does anyone cope with life?” Life happens and it always goes on. Neither the world nor time stop for anyone. How does a widow cope with the loss of a soul mate? They just do. It would certainly be nice if time would pause to give them time to process and heal, but it doesn’t. It just goes on. It would be nice if life waited for me to be “ready” to lead a group to Kenya, but it won’t. Ready or not, here I go. Ready or not, here it comes, full speed, unrelenting, and unstoppable. Ready or not, it always comes. And Christ is always there to bear the unbearable, live the unlivable, and control all that we cannot.
