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When Two Worlds Collide



by Karyn Ross

As I prepared for this trip and my return to South Africa,  I faced all the usual struggles. At times it is polarizing, a feeling of being pulled between two worlds, both filled with friends, loved ones, a feeling of security and belonging. 

The world I am leaving moves at a very fast pace and busyness swirls all around us often making it difficult to sit in the quiet and enjoy the simple things. The world where we are headed tends to move slower, I am able notice the little things that make a big difference and just live in the moment. 

An internal battle always rages within me as well as in one world we have so much and we are going where there is overwhelming need. We are leaving loved ones who need us, family and friends, ongoing situations that need our attention and going somewhere else where we will immerse ourselves in more of the same. I often find myself revisiting the question, what is my purpose here? 

As always, within hours of landing in this beautiful country, I begin to have clarity. We arrived at our guest house after dark and as we unloaded our luggage, I looked up to see a beautiful starry night particularly one bright star that I had seen just the night before back at home. I chatted with friends and we headed to bed full of anticipation of what the days ahead will bring. 

This morning, I woke early before the sun, a very rare occurrence for me. I made some coffee, gathered my devotions and headed outside. As I sit here watching the sun rise over these beautiful mountains that I have come to love, the feeling of peace that has become so familiar here begins to wash over me. I let go of any remaining unease, anxiety or worry. As I breathe in and exhale, I am hit with the realization that my two worlds have not, nor will they ever, collide. It is one big beautiful world, and He has created it all. 

Soon my friends will awaken, and we will gather to begin what I know will be an incredible week of blessings. Our purpose here over the next 10 days has yet to be revealed but we are excited and we know it will be amazing. So I will sit and finish my coffee, incredibly grateful to be here as I embrace the peaceful transition between two places that I love, knowing that He is ever present in both. 

“In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.”

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