Since returning from India, I have hiked through different levels of thought, trying to process the eight short days Carly and I spent cultivating relationships across the globe. If you have jumped across the pond to serve in another country, you understand the feeling. You try to hold on to the perspective you gained. You sit deep in thought, marveling at the vastness of the world. Days, weeks, and months go by and your experience becomes a distant memory relived through photographs and stories.
This process isn't new to me. I have travelled the world, embracing the colorful threads of culture that make human life unique. From castles to slums and deserts to mountains, I have observed the beauty that ultimately unites the world in a mysterious way. Some people don't stop to acknowledge the differences and how (without knowing) we all work together in the ebb and flow of life. In the midst of tragedy and injustice, there is always someone who takes responsibility to elicit change. This trip was obviously different from the rest for me.
In the past I have embarked upon different adventures, but this time I travelled with a deeper intent. Instead of seeking to find inspiration and expecting situations to wrench my heart, I allowed my heart, soul, and mind to intentionally wonder at what life was laying at my feet. I opened my eyes to the wonder and splendor of the world and the people in it. I was intentional about listening to the heart beat of my surroundings, enjoying its rhythm instead of trying to match it with my own. In my intentional wonder, I began to hear the rhythm and began to understand the rhythm of the world. It truly was a lovely symphony.