The In-Between

I am the kind of person that loves the new year. I love new beginnings. I love reflecting on the past year, creating new goals, and dreaming of what the future could hold. But this year, as well as last year, have been a little strange for us. Last January we officially got the approval to start raising support to come to Japan in July 2019. This January we are suddenly facing the second half of our time here in Japan and the reality of heading home this July.

Do you see why trying to dream and plan for the year ahead has been a little wonky? 2019 and 2020 are split right down the middle.

It is hard to create goals and make plans for a future that feels so unknown. Last year, we had very little knowledge of what our time in Japan would be like. And now, even though we will be returning to a place we know, there are still many questions as to what our lives will look like.

This new year I am reminded of a beautiful gift this uncertainty brought us. It is this: there are very few things in life that are actually certain. We are used to living carefully planned lives with 5 year plans and full to-do lists, but the truth is that all of our lives are as uncertain as these two January's have felt for us.

I don't think this means that we shouldn't set goals or dream about where we want to be in 5 years. Goals and dreams are beautiful. And it is good to want to cultivate an intentional life. I just think it means we should hold our dreams loosely and remember that we are not the ones in control.

When things feel like they are simply chaos and you look forward to a more steady season, we invite you to join us in the in-between. To resolve to not let excitement for the future eclipse the present. To hope for what's to come while also making the most of the good and bad in the everyday.