Life has changed quite a bit since then. There are times when my heart longs for those few small towns. My heart longs for my family, my nieces and nephews, and old friends. It longs to be able to walk bare-foot at my parents’ place and sleep somewhere where the only light is that of the stars or the moon or the lightening bugs at dusk. Geography is a funny thing.
No sooner am I among my own and my mind drifts back to other people I know. When I was a kid, those place-names were just dots on a map. I would run my fingers across the globe imagining the curiosities the world held. Now when I look at a globe I see faces. I see the faces of people I know. I see their tears and smiles. I can hear them crying out to God in prayer. I can see them disappear around the corner. I can feel their rough hands in mine in salutation. I can feel their embrace. I can hear their voices in song. So many faces: each of them living their lives; each of them walking their streets. Faces I never knew existed now mean the world to me.
Some of these people have been pillars for me. I’ve learned so much from so many of them. And many times, it’s me asking them for prayer. I won’t forget them. I hope I’ve been a blessing to them. Please, you don’t forget them, either. The next time you look at a map or a globe think about your brothers and sisters around the world and pray for them. They just might be praying for you.
