One week and counting . . .

One week from today I will be boarding a plane with a destination of Cape Town, South Africa! I have wanted to go to South Africa for a number of years, and now I have the opportunity with my company to do so. I will be traveling with my colleague Sharon and will be joining three others while there.

Today I am cleaning my house. Yes, it's kind of rare that I do that these days, with any sense of completeness, that is. I guess it's kind of a preparation thing. It mentally helps me to take my leave of my family if I've left the floors clean and their laundry done. It's always difficult for me to think about leaving my family because I know I'll miss them and I know they'll miss me. I always feel good when that plane touches down at BNA on the last leg home.

But for now, I'm savoring the sense of adventure I feel about going. I've never been to that part of the world before. I've never taken a trip that far before and on a plane for so long. There are all sorts of appointments and visits and conversations and new people waiting for me on the other side of that trip.

I feel a sense of anticipation and a challenge to really be aware and listening while there: Listening to God, to people I meet and people I'm with, and to myself and observations. I want to be ready.

So, back to that housecleaning and laundry for now . . .