The Body... mundane yet beautiful

Tonight, we had people in our house who have literally lived on at least 3 different continents, have probably traveled to more than 50 different countries combined, shared in many different walks of life, and are pursuing many different passions and interests. Now, you may think these would be people of "mature" years that have had time to live and study and grow... which I suppose to an extent is true, but I must tell you that, with the exception of my parents, every person here tonight was my age (26) and younger.

I was having a lot of fun talking with the different friend groupings and connections. Yes, this music and theatre nerd can actually enjoy conversation with someone studying to be a PA (physicians assistant - a.k.a. "blood and guts stuff") or a college basketball player (I think you play that on a court, not a field, right?). Anyways, we grilled out and stayed up until past midnight, just enjoying the night and one another. It was definitely a fun (and by moments chaotic) group. At one point, as many as 15 were crowded around the kitchen, and even now we have 4 extras spending the night.

I was just marveling at the fact that some of them have traveled - indeed, LIVED - in more places than most people will visit in an entire lifetime. While I have never lived for an extended period outside the USA, I have done a fair share of traveling that, I believe, has helped me to appreciate and think more critically (not all bad criticism) about my own country. I believe you can observe differences while visiting another country for a week or so... but to have actually lived in another country long enough to learn the language and the heartbeat of the people... that would be quite something. Something I wouldn't mind doing some day.

A few of the people that were here tonight have only lived in the US for a few months... compared to 18+ years on "foreign" soil. All of them are American citizens, but many of them feel more at home outside the US than in it. It was refreshing to speak with them tonight - not that we spent much time country-comparing, but it was just fun to see the Body of Christ and know that the Lord is truly alive and at work in His kids all over the place. Again, not even huge "missionary" stories... just the Lord quietly at His daily work in our hearts.