There is nothing quite like the sound of geese to create in me a sense of longing, of homing. It seems rather unusual for this time of year, but this morning a large flock of Canada Geese was flying overhead and then started circling for about five minutes and I was wondering what it was all about. We do regularly see geese in the winter but they tend to be high overhead or flying very purposefully in one direction, often to or from the Fraser River. They continued circling until they landed in our neighbor’s field. Of course they were there to bid me farewell and to create in me that sense of homing as I take leave for 27 days, visiting our sister school in Kabala Sierra Leone.
And there will no doubt be a homecoming there as well. It’s been two and a half years since last I visited. The Ebola Crisis which ended a few months ago prevented regular travel so I am eager to be reunited with friends and colleagues there. This March it will be ten years since I first arrived in Sierra Leone and my life has been changed by the experience and the relationships. In about 2002 I had reconnected with a childhood friend Dr. Jo Kuyvenhoven of Calvin College. She had recently returned from SL at the close of the civil war, having spent several years doing literacy work there with CRWM and World Renew in the 80’s and has continued to be involved in helping to improve literacy skills in the country. She told us then about the devastation of the 11 year civil war and we got to talking about what we could do to affect change there and we began dreaming about helping to establish a Christian School.
Ten years later there is a beautiful school campus with some 450 children attending in grades 1-12. One of the things I really love about the school is that we have Christian and Muslim children attending together, their parents meet together at Parent meetings and together I believe we are reshaping the lives of children in that little jewel of a country in ways that are hopeful and good. There are many things lacking in Sierra Leone. Hope is not one of them. I continue to be in awe of people’s resilience in the face of enormous life challenges and it humbles me.
I received this poem this morning from poet-pastor Steve Garnass-Holmes from his blog that I subscribe to. I thought it appropriate for my leave taking.
The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me,
for God has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim God's time of emancipation.
—Luke 4.18-19
God, help me not merely to bring something to the poor
that I have and they don't,
but for my living to be good for them,
to align my life for the sake of the poor and oppressed.
God, help me release those who are captive
to judgment, self-absorption, racism and fear,
especially my own.
Help me see where I am blind,
shine light where we don't want to look,
name what is not said.
Gracious One, I am poor. I am blind.
I am captive, oppressed by the lies I share.
Heal me; help me; set me free.
God, this is not your burden placed on me
but your gift, your Spirit working in me,
your love that keeps me grateful and passionate,
your delight in setting us free.