"God of Justice" by Tim Hughes
God of Justice, Savior to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward, keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
To act justly every day
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out, Lord
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sally leaves Scotland...at least for a while
Thursday evening, May 29, Harks and I said goodbye to those of our friend group who were left and drove out of St. Andrews with her dad, headed for her home in Edinburgh. As we drove away, I dramatically gazed out the back window until I couldn't see St. Andrews any more. That night, I had dinner with her family and then Harks and I took a huge long walk through the Dalmeny estate nearby her home as well as along the lovely riverwalk. Since our friendship over the past four months had been characterized by long talks, walks, and runs, it was an appropriate way to spend our last moments together (at least for a while). The next morning, Friday, we woke up before 5am to take me to the Edinburgh airport for my 6:30 flight to Heathrow and then to Chicago.
As I said an emotional and painful goodbye to Harks in the airport, and 1 hour later tearfully watched as Scotland disappeared beneath a layer of puffy clouds, and then a few hours later started my flight across the Atlantic Ocean, watching on the screen as the plane traveled away from Britain and towards the US of A, I tried to comprehend the fact that my time in Scotland was actually and officially over. How had it gone by so quickly? How could it be that I was on my way home, for real?
Even now, 3 weeks later, it's difficult to contemplate the fact that I won't be returning to Scotland any time soon and I won't be seeing my dear friends at St. Andrews for a long time. But then I take comfort in the fact that I know we will keep in touch and, even more, I know that I will return to St. Andrews someday. Definitely in 3 years. Definitely because I just am going to make it happen. It has to happen and it will happen. Scotland, St. Andrews, and my dear friends have left indelible hearts on my heart and on my person and I can't not go back. Even as my heart was put back together again when I was reunited with friends and family over here in America, I left part of my heart behind in Britain.
That's because, overall, my semester wasn't about the sights I saw, the places I visited, the pictures I took, the countries I checked off my list, or even the classes I took. It was about the people I met, the blessings I received, the ministries I took part in, the fellowship and community I experienced, and the lifelong friends that I made. Who knew? I certainly didn't expect that my experience would be characterized by people rather than places and studies. Certainly the places and the studies meant a lot to me. I enjoyed them and I'll never forget them. But more than enjoying and remembering, I was changed by the people who came into my life and let me into their lives. I was changed, in some presently inexpressible way, and, as a result, empowered to return to Valpo and finish my time at university with a new confidence, rejuvenated energy, and supernaturally instilled passion to serve Christ and love His people.
My friend and former roomie Claire asked me this morning if my time in Scotland was everything I had hoped it would be and at first I didn't know how to answer her. Then I realized that that was because my time in Scotland was not at all what I had expected. So, no, it wasn't everything I had hoped, exactly, but it was beyond my expectations, more than I had hoped, and better than I could have dreamed.
Now, I don't know how God works and it's probably too complex for me to ever wrap my head around. And I'm fine with that. I'm fine with not understanding exactly how God works and what role he plays in our lives. But I do know that God does work in my life and that my Scotland semester was what it was because of God's working. Funny how it usually works out that, in retrospect, God's plan is way better than anything I could have or did plan for myself. (Even when I'm such a meticulous, obsessive-compulsive, organized, forward-thinking, multi-tasking planner; I mean, if anyone's plans should work out and be good, it should be mine - right? Not.) So, more than anything, thanks for that God.
As I said an emotional and painful goodbye to Harks in the airport, and 1 hour later tearfully watched as Scotland disappeared beneath a layer of puffy clouds, and then a few hours later started my flight across the Atlantic Ocean, watching on the screen as the plane traveled away from Britain and towards the US of A, I tried to comprehend the fact that my time in Scotland was actually and officially over. How had it gone by so quickly? How could it be that I was on my way home, for real?
Even now, 3 weeks later, it's difficult to contemplate the fact that I won't be returning to Scotland any time soon and I won't be seeing my dear friends at St. Andrews for a long time. But then I take comfort in the fact that I know we will keep in touch and, even more, I know that I will return to St. Andrews someday. Definitely in 3 years. Definitely because I just am going to make it happen. It has to happen and it will happen. Scotland, St. Andrews, and my dear friends have left indelible hearts on my heart and on my person and I can't not go back. Even as my heart was put back together again when I was reunited with friends and family over here in America, I left part of my heart behind in Britain.
That's because, overall, my semester wasn't about the sights I saw, the places I visited, the pictures I took, the countries I checked off my list, or even the classes I took. It was about the people I met, the blessings I received, the ministries I took part in, the fellowship and community I experienced, and the lifelong friends that I made. Who knew? I certainly didn't expect that my experience would be characterized by people rather than places and studies. Certainly the places and the studies meant a lot to me. I enjoyed them and I'll never forget them. But more than enjoying and remembering, I was changed by the people who came into my life and let me into their lives. I was changed, in some presently inexpressible way, and, as a result, empowered to return to Valpo and finish my time at university with a new confidence, rejuvenated energy, and supernaturally instilled passion to serve Christ and love His people.
My friend and former roomie Claire asked me this morning if my time in Scotland was everything I had hoped it would be and at first I didn't know how to answer her. Then I realized that that was because my time in Scotland was not at all what I had expected. So, no, it wasn't everything I had hoped, exactly, but it was beyond my expectations, more than I had hoped, and better than I could have dreamed.
Now, I don't know how God works and it's probably too complex for me to ever wrap my head around. And I'm fine with that. I'm fine with not understanding exactly how God works and what role he plays in our lives. But I do know that God does work in my life and that my Scotland semester was what it was because of God's working. Funny how it usually works out that, in retrospect, God's plan is way better than anything I could have or did plan for myself. (Even when I'm such a meticulous, obsessive-compulsive, organized, forward-thinking, multi-tasking planner; I mean, if anyone's plans should work out and be good, it should be mine - right? Not.) So, more than anything, thanks for that God.
A charming English holiday in York
The weekend before I left Scotland, some of my friends and I took the train to stay at the home of my good friend David Simpson in York, England. Our plan was for the girls to travel by car and the boys to travel by train on Saturday, May 24, but when one of our friends (with the car) had to rush home for a family emergency, the girls and I were left without an affordable way to get to York. The prices for a train ride that day had shot up to 70 pounds return (both ways) per person and that was just out of the question. We searched and searched all morning until the boys had to leave to catch their train (which they'd booked in advance). Things looked bleak and we expected that we wouldn't be able to join them. Then we had a "Eureka!" moment when someone suggested we check for Sunday trains. To our overwhelming excitement, the fares for Sunday to Wednesday returns were substantially less and much more reasonable than the fares for Saturday to Tuesday returns, so we quickly booked our tickets.
At that moment, my friend Sarah (Harks) had the idea to tell the boys that we weren't able to come at all and then to tell our friend/David's girlfriend Rachel (who'd gone ahead with them) that we were actually coming on Sunday as a surprise. She did a great job keeping the secret until David found out. But he kept quiet and didn't ruin the surprise for our friend John. When we arrived at the station on Sunday, David's dad was there to pick us up and drive us back to their home, which was situated in a perfect in-between spot that was both close to town and also felt like it was in the English countryside of picturesque Yorkshire. When we walked into the dining room where everyone was enjoying Sunday lunch, David feigned surprise and John's mouth dropped open in complete shock and astonishment. He was so surprised and excited by our presence that he had to leave the room for a moment. :) Success!
The rest of the weekend was as wonderful as that first moment. Sunday was very low-key. We had tea in the garden, cut David and his twin brother Jonathan's hair, jumped on the trampoline, took a walk along the Ouse River, played at a nearby kiddy park, and lazed around until church that night. At the Simpsons' church, St. Mike's (St. Michael le Belfrey) in downtown York, we had the privilege of hearing David's dad Roger preach. After the great service, we went to the nearby pub and then back home for dinner.
Monday, we woke up to David bringing us hot tea (regular tea infused with jasmine and milk) in bed and his mother cooking yummy porridge downstairs. After breakfast, we jumped on the train to Scarborough where we had a lovely picnic lunch by a lake, played cricket on the beach, had an interesting conversation with a staunch and semi-drunken atheist in a pub, and played cards over tea before returning home. Because it was a bank holiday, the steam train was running and, lucky us, we had the opportunity to ride first-class in the same steam train that was used in the Harry Potter films! That night we made a bonfire, had a barbecue, and ate s'mores by the Ouse River in York. The boys impressed us with their wood-finding skills, especially my fellow American Paul, from Texas, who felled a tree to use in the fire! Later on, back home, we played one of my new favorite games: Articulate! After the first round when the girls creamed the boys (who are just not as good at describing abstract words under pressure as girls are, I've decided), we mixed up the teams to make it more fair. Fun times all around!
Tuesday, we had a lazy morning of more tea in bed, breakfast, and cooking. John, unfortunately, had to leave but the rest of us stayed on for a tour of downtown York, tea and scones in Little Betty's Cafe, and a guided tour of the York Minster (the Cathedral) by a world-renowned stained-glass expert. Rachel and Paul had to leave that night and, with our number diminished to 3 girls and David, we ate dinner and then we girls went on a long walk around York.
Wednesday, we got up early, packed, said our heartfelt and grateful goodbyes to the wonderfully hospitable Simpsons (except David whom we would see again back in St. Andrews), and then Harks, Hannah, and I walked around the shops in York until our train back to St. Andrews early that afternoon.
It was such a lovely way to conclude my time in Britain! It was so relaxing and enjoyable. Wonderful company, beautiful English countryside, amazing hosts, good food, and great fun. The return to St. Andrews was bittersweet because I knew then that I had only 1 day left to finish my goodbyes and finish packing up my room before I said goodbye to St. Andrews for a very long time.
At that moment, my friend Sarah (Harks) had the idea to tell the boys that we weren't able to come at all and then to tell our friend/David's girlfriend Rachel (who'd gone ahead with them) that we were actually coming on Sunday as a surprise. She did a great job keeping the secret until David found out. But he kept quiet and didn't ruin the surprise for our friend John. When we arrived at the station on Sunday, David's dad was there to pick us up and drive us back to their home, which was situated in a perfect in-between spot that was both close to town and also felt like it was in the English countryside of picturesque Yorkshire. When we walked into the dining room where everyone was enjoying Sunday lunch, David feigned surprise and John's mouth dropped open in complete shock and astonishment. He was so surprised and excited by our presence that he had to leave the room for a moment. :) Success!
The rest of the weekend was as wonderful as that first moment. Sunday was very low-key. We had tea in the garden, cut David and his twin brother Jonathan's hair, jumped on the trampoline, took a walk along the Ouse River, played at a nearby kiddy park, and lazed around until church that night. At the Simpsons' church, St. Mike's (St. Michael le Belfrey) in downtown York, we had the privilege of hearing David's dad Roger preach. After the great service, we went to the nearby pub and then back home for dinner.
Monday, we woke up to David bringing us hot tea (regular tea infused with jasmine and milk) in bed and his mother cooking yummy porridge downstairs. After breakfast, we jumped on the train to Scarborough where we had a lovely picnic lunch by a lake, played cricket on the beach, had an interesting conversation with a staunch and semi-drunken atheist in a pub, and played cards over tea before returning home. Because it was a bank holiday, the steam train was running and, lucky us, we had the opportunity to ride first-class in the same steam train that was used in the Harry Potter films! That night we made a bonfire, had a barbecue, and ate s'mores by the Ouse River in York. The boys impressed us with their wood-finding skills, especially my fellow American Paul, from Texas, who felled a tree to use in the fire! Later on, back home, we played one of my new favorite games: Articulate! After the first round when the girls creamed the boys (who are just not as good at describing abstract words under pressure as girls are, I've decided), we mixed up the teams to make it more fair. Fun times all around!
Tuesday, we had a lazy morning of more tea in bed, breakfast, and cooking. John, unfortunately, had to leave but the rest of us stayed on for a tour of downtown York, tea and scones in Little Betty's Cafe, and a guided tour of the York Minster (the Cathedral) by a world-renowned stained-glass expert. Rachel and Paul had to leave that night and, with our number diminished to 3 girls and David, we ate dinner and then we girls went on a long walk around York.
Wednesday, we got up early, packed, said our heartfelt and grateful goodbyes to the wonderfully hospitable Simpsons (except David whom we would see again back in St. Andrews), and then Harks, Hannah, and I walked around the shops in York until our train back to St. Andrews early that afternoon.
It was such a lovely way to conclude my time in Britain! It was so relaxing and enjoyable. Wonderful company, beautiful English countryside, amazing hosts, good food, and great fun. The return to St. Andrews was bittersweet because I knew then that I had only 1 day left to finish my goodbyes and finish packing up my room before I said goodbye to St. Andrews for a very long time.
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