Crossings

As some of you know, we were without internet in our apartment for three weeks. We were reconnected to the world earlier this week when the modem in the building was replaced.  Although, we shouldn't have, we felt the disconnect.  Even though we had great conversations daily with our new frends and colleagues here, the language barrier left so much unsaid, so much incomplete. No doubt about it, with emails, blogs, and news feeds, all in English, we feel more complete.  We were in that stage of culture where we were feeling lonely and slightly homesick.  We had no intention of getting stuck there; we knew it would pass, but without early- morning and late-evening email checks, we experienced a sensation of isolation. We couldn't communicate with the familiar.

Each day after work, we hunted for Internet cafes.  Those that had been open yesterday, were closed today.  We'd move on to another block and always found one with at least one space open. Missing keys, letters filled in with fingernail polish, or a Spanish keyboard never discouraged us from pulling up emails and pounding out replies.  When we left, we were always grateful for the open Internet cafe and the opportunity it afforded us to stay connected.  In the process, we discovered that communication with family and friends was "muy importante!"  Communication existed here; of course, but there is just something about it being in your Mother Tongue that makes it so noticeable when it doesn't exist.

Our devotion recently made this more evident as we read about the Christian cross.  The horizontal line represents the relationship and community in proximity to us.  These relationships can be messy sometimes, but they aren't meant to be.  As the horizontal line is unbroken, so we should strive for unbroken relationships.  When our Internet was down and "out for the count," our communication was broken, and, boy, did we feel it!   We felt the distance and we hunted in order to mend, to re-connect, to re-establish those relationships.  And the reward?  News from home - family and friends.

While the horizontal line represents our earthly relationships, the vertical line represents our relationship with God.  That line is forever unbroken.  He is not on wi-fi that disconnects when the electricity shuts down.  He is not a "modem" that threatens to wear out.  He does not speak only one language.  He is not limited to "proximity."  He has nothing missing. He is always easy to find.  He is eager to start communication.  He is complete and offers completion.  He created the Christian cross and His son, Jesus, hung there to make vertical and horizontal relationships complete.  

There are so many beautiful crosses adorning the world.  Let's keep looking up, so we don't miss their message.





 KEEP LOOKING UP, and we will, too.     Jim and Linda