5 Inconvenient Truths.

Inconvenient Truth #1: Family conflicts are easier 10,000 miles away.
Issues that neither of us cared to work on are now upon us and must be taken care of. It was much easier while overseas to just hang up the computer phone and say "isn't that a shame." Now that we are right here in the middle, we must do something- but what?

Inconvenient Truth #2: America is a fast-food culture. Never in the last two years have we had so many immediate items that had to be dealt with on a daily basis. We have started calling a family meal going through the drive-thru together in the minivan.

Inconvenient Truth #3: Returning to the states has been a bit like re-opening a healing wound. Upon landing, there was an immediate pain that in some ways we had missed out on quite a bit but in other ways it was painful to see that some things we wished would change were exactly the same. Over time, we have put a bandaid on the wound. Now that it is healing, we are itching to get overseas.

Inconvenient Truth #4: Two plus years in transition is two years too many. Since our departure two years ago, our conversations about the future have always started with "if we go back to the states... or if we come back overseas..." The uncertainty of our future caused us to be in constant transition which meant that we were unable to keep more than 8 suitcases of our earhtly possesions or make definite plans on anything. Transition can be one of the most uncomfortable places to be.

Inconvenient Truth #5: God is more concerned with our spiritual development and relationship with him than with our happiness and comfort level. It is true that oftentimes these two items go hand-in-hand, the better the relationship with God, the more contented and overall happy we are. However, one only has to look at Job to know that the process of getting there can be very unpleasant.