Reub's journey

20 December 2009

Waiting

Jessica has been gone for two years, a Peace Corps volunteer in one of the most difficult environments on the planet, Niger, West Africa. There have been times of worry when she has had to face the death of children, the death of young mothers, her own illnesses, the danger of travel, the background noise of terrorism. I never knew these things when I was her age; she has absorbed experiences I will never know.

And now it is over and she is on her way home, or so we thought; Mother Nature had ideas of her own when she piled 20 inches of snow onto the eastern seaboard of the US this weekend. And so J is stranded at JFK, with no help yet from United Airlines, but at least the companionship of two other volunteers returning with her.

We have to wait a little longer but it will be OK.


Waiting
By John Burroughs

Serene, I fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea;
I rave no more 'gainst time or fate,
For lo! my own shall come to me.

I stay my haste, I make delays,
For what avails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways,
And what is mine shall know my face.

Asleep, awake, by night or day,
The friends I seek are seeking me;
No wind can drive my bark astray,
Nor change the tide of destiny.

What matter if I stand alone?
I wait with joy the coming years;
My heart shall reap where it hath sown,
And garner up its fruit of tears.

The waters know their own and draw
The brook that springs in yonder height;
So flows the good with equal law
Unto the soul of pure delight.

The stars come nightly to the sky;
The tidal wave unto the sea;
Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
Can keep my own away from me.

5 comments:

  1. Well we just heard: she comes home on Tuesday, barring any unforeseen problems! yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

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  2. Hey! That will be the best birthday gift I could ever hope for!!! It's a shame that she's so close and yet so far, but at least she's on the same continent and what a glorious reunion you will have!! We'll be thinking of you!! Love you.

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  3. I bet you can't hardly contain your excitement. How wonderful for you. What an amazing experience your daughter has lived.

    Have a wonderful Christmas, Kerry.

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  4. Sounds like one of the best of holiday gifts for you! I am sure she will be tired after the culture shock and delayed travel. But you will have the days ahead to catch up.

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  5. I hope that she will be with you safe and sound and soon xx

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