Stormy Weather
On January 31, 2021 by Keturah HaferkampThe Midwest and Northeastern parts of the USA are experiencing snowstorms this weekend. It is winter in all its glory.
There is so. much. SNOW. Sidewalks, streets, lawns and driveways are no longer discernible from each other. Just a big blanket of fresh, puffy snow all around. It’s gorgeous, but it’s hard to know where to step.
Proverbs tells us to ponder the path of our feet. But what about when the path disappears? How does one know how to move forward in such tall snow when there is no discerning a curb from a sidewalk? –when we cannot trust our eyes?
As a matter of safety for the mostly elderly folks who attend our church here in the states, our leaders decided to cancel in person services this morning. We will all worship from our living rooms.
While stateside our family “attends” church both at home and at the university campus church. Vice-versa whilst in Korea. We’ve done so since July. Campus church services meet on our Saturday nights/ their Sunday mornings.
In Korea this weekend one retiring professor and his wife were honored during the service for their faithful care of others and their mission work at the University and in the country.
In person I have known the two of them only briefly. I met them in November 2020 in person, though I have had many email exchanges over the years and then ZOOM exchanges throughout 2020. The professor had served as director of the department for several years. It was under his leadership that I was invited as a visiting professor.
Last June when I was offered the role, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to say yes. In fact I expressed my doubts multiple times throughout the process, citing all the practical difficulties as insurmountable. On top of the all the loss and all the paperwork challenges at every turn, one of my family members’ passports expired. Can you imagine applying for a passport during a global pandemic–all government offices shuttered–while only weeks from a looming visa expiration? I couldn’t. As far as I was concerened, the whole situation was impossible. I explained that even though I wanted to continue forward, that I was willing to let the opportunity go… .
Surprisingly, the director of the department cheered me on. In fact on several occasions by email when the path eluded me yet again, he would write long, heartening emails to encourage me to not give up–to stay the course even when I could no longer see the path ahead. He kept praying for me. I can think of only a small number of instances when a person has encouraged my faith in such a generously direct way. Almost like a coach. My own personal cloud of witnessness.
I have known them for just a brief time, but their work as tentmakers is a strong example for me. They see their profession as a vehicle, not a career nor it’s own destination.
I honor that.
If we return to Korea, then when we do they will likely be gone. What must it be like at retirement age to leave one’s host country in order to re-integrate back into one’s home culture? What must it feel like to try to travel across the world in a global pandemic?
It must feel like outside looks–
for we walk by faith and not by sight.