Have you ever sat down and really appreciated and marveled at where you come from? I hadn’t until last week sitting on top on a mountain at the entrance to the 2nd largest cave in Asia.
The last half of our time in Nepal, my squad was split into two groups. One was sent to the mountains (that’s me!) and the other to the jungle. We (my group) spent 8 days traveling to different villages, climbing several mountains, and praying over the cities we were in. It was exhausting, freeing, and really changed my perspective on what ministry should look like.
Homesickness hadn’t really hit me until halfway through month two. If you don’t know me, I’ll give you a sneak peak into my life map. I grew up in a small town in middle Tennessee and for the past 6 years have been living in Chattanooga on and off. For a while, I resented my small town and where I was living. I didn’t connect with small town life, or want to live in Chattanooga. I felt like I had no choice to live there and that was constricting. In the past year however, God has really changed my perspective. Tennessee is a beautiful state that is full of so many wonders and opportunities that are just passed by everyday.
I have a deep love for Tennessee and realized that it was always there, I was just ignoring it out of my own stubbornness. Tennessee is my home. I have been reminded of that in so many ways in the past 6 months, especially preparing for the race but God gave me another reminder while in Nepal 2 weeks ago.
As we climbed up to the entrance of the cave, I took a minute to catch my breath (there were only about a million stairs) and turned around to take in the scenery. The river below looked just like the Tennessee River as it curves and twists through Chattanooga. I was stunned at the similarities, but that wasn’t all. We climbed through the cave and the structures and adventures that went with that reminded me of so many trips to Buggy Top with my family, youth group, and family friends growing up. I was right at home.
God knew that I needed that little snipet of home, not only to comfort me but to also remind me of the beautiful place that I come from. I love my Tennessee home and if God ever calls me back there, I hope that I can remember this time and actually appreciate it for what it is and all that God created it to be.
“Oh, Dixie Land,
I hope you understand
When I miss my Tennessee home
And I been away, way too long
I can’t see this world unless I go
Outside my Southern Comfort zone”
