how was india?

i've been asked this question countless times in the last few weeks, and i've learned that it's absolutely impossible to answer well. i can't believe i've been back in the states for 2 1/2 weeks. part of me feels like these weeks have flown by, but part of me feels like india was 3 months ago. sometimes i even get that--did i really even go to india?--feeling. dr. stroope warned us that we might get that feeling, but i didn't want to believe him. i guess he was right. again.

i've recently been going through my journal from india over and over again trying to make myself remember different things i felt, experienced, and learned while i was there. there are some issues that are much more absolute to me now than they were before the trip, but there are other issues that have developed into even bigger and broader questions. i think i'll make a list (no one's surprised). obviously it won't be exhaustive--just a few things i'm thinking about and would love for you to think about too...

• living a lifestyle of spiritual devotion--not legalism, but discipline.
• seeking spiritual sensitivity.
• grasping the absolute necessity of prayer and scripture.
• living more simply.
• living slowly.
• recognizing jesus as the only way.
• knowing that jesus is enough.
• understanding who i am in light of who he is.
• recognizing his providence and grace.
• living with my hands open--i am entitled to nothing--everything is a gift.
• seeing people as stories.
• knowing my role as a witness.
• asking questions of gospel, conversion, salvation, mission.
• questioning my questions--am i asking arrogantly or humbly?

in mark 5, after jesus healed a demon-possessed man, the man--of course--wanted to follow him. instead of letting the man stay with him, jesus said to him, "go home to your friends and tell them how much the lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

when i get asked the token "how was india?" question, i love to talk about the colors, the smells, the food, the clothes, the people, and the culture of india... but maybe--like the demon-possessed man--my role is to declare god's mercy and faithfulness in my life.