A Journey Back...Forward - Part 2

Walking to my next gate during a layover at the Tokyo airport, I ran into past participants from programs at MTI. This is the non-profit organization where I work in Colorado. We (Steven and Lauren Sauder & I) were all on the same flight. They are moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a 2-3 year initial time of service with Growing Entrepreneurs International. I meet them in Colorado, they are from Illinois, and here we are in Japan randomly on the same flight to Bangkok...What a small world!!

Moments like these, I appreciate community and reflect on how valuable it is in our lives. How sweet to have a chance to visit, swap stories, hear the latest news, be encouraged and hopefully be a bit of a blessing to others on the journey. I'm thankful for all the many friends along the path of life, and for whatever season or seasons we may travel together it is what makes the journey GREAT!

At this point in my trip back to Asia, this clear reminder of God's desire for us to know others and be known by them was rich. I am so thankful in this season of grief and transition for the incredible community of friends (in so many places) that fill my life to overflowing! The friends of seasons' past that remain steady and strong, but also the new relationships that have been an unexpected source of strength, grace and encouragement in these last eight months. Living out faith in community is something I have always valued, but never more than in my transition back to states while walking through grief. Lastly, it was such a sweet and perfect place to have a new, pleasant experience that created the first great memory of this trip.

Thankful for community...thankful for the Sauders...thankful for God's sweet, gentle reminder of His ways...

A Journey Back...Forward - Part 1

Wow! It's been a very long time since I've spent time sharing thoughts, stories, experienc- es, recaps of special events and portions of life here at The Magruder. There is much to share about the last 8 months of life. As I embark on a journey back to mostly familiar places in Asia, along with a new land to be encountered, I hope to recap not only this trip but also give commentary to the last 8 months of life. My last post was Part 1 of a 2 part series. This last entry is poignant for me. It's like a representation of how life, as it was, froze in time. A process of chipping away at the ice (working through grief and towards acceptance of all that has happened) began...and continues. Now, I have this very real and tangible experience of being back where I got a tragic phone call and being present to where life, as I knew it, ended abruptly. Grief has been the journey of the last 8 months, and now more than all five senses as well as heart and mind will be engaged in a journey filled with the hope of reconciliation and greater acceptance of all that was, is and will be.

I do hope by the end of this trip, to finally post Part 2 of "Bus Driver". Hope to share the fun, deep, meaningful, silly, difficult, sad, redemptive, adventurous and...well all the different types of moments these next two weeks hold. Thanks for going on the journey with me!