Oasis....with a pair of ducks?!?

We finally made it to a place where we could take a breath. MTI in Colorado has became a place of solitude for our family. We have totally enjoyed settling in to one place (we even unpacked our bags...and put the clothes in dressers!). Meeting families God has placed in similar situations has been very encouraging. We have been looking forward to this for some time, but did not anticipate how the cessation of activity would affect us. The reality of departure has hit with force. We totally look forward to this moment....and totally dread it. It's a paradox.

On our first day of class here, our instructor held up two ducks. One of those ducks was as cute as any rubber ducky could be. His pristine condition put a smile on our face and when you looked at him, all seemed right in the world. We called him our "yay duck". The second duck was not quite so attractive to behold. He was full of dirt and mud. Not quite so satisfactory to look at. But....he was a reality. We called him "yuck duck". There was no getting around the fact that the two came together...they were...a pair of ducks...or in other words a paradox.  Our "yay duck" feelings involve excitement in serving God and the Zambian people.  Our "yuck duck" feelings involve saying goodbye, separation from family and friends, etc.  So we experience both at once... the "pair of ducks" or paradox.

Learning the above analogy and phraseology has allowed us as a couple to deal with each others perception of "yay" and "yuck". All four of our kids were taught the same analogy in their classes. God has enabled us to process with our kids some things they had not easily been able to express.  Like "why do I feel so excited one moment and so depressed the next?"  "Is this roller coaster of emotion even normal?" And the answer is yes. If we don't allow ourselves to feel these lows, we can never fully experience the joys God sends our way. 

Thanks for praying for our family as we sort through our "pair of ducks"