Life is lived daily.  Like you, I have a family, responsibilities, things to do, places to go and activities to pursue.  In the midst of life we become consumed with the boundaries of our to-do-lists.  There is no complete remedy for this, because for all daily happens every twenty-four hours.  Each new day brings challenges and opportunities, from bills to pay and problems solved to children raised and meals to prepare to name just a few.  If one is not careful these daily activities confine and define not just our lives but our view of the world as well.

As a child it never crossed my mind that I would leave my hometown neighborhood.  I assumed my childhood friends would remain my friends for life and I could not see beyond the edges of my town.  Little did I know that as a teenager listening to missionaries speak at my church that I too would leave home to answer the call of Christ.  It started with my receiving by grace the free gift of salvation.  My pastor quietly and by actions more than words encouraged me to go to the college he attended.  That was one of the first times I ever thought of leaving home.  As a teenager I read the six missionary reading books that our denomination sends to our congregations.  I remember reading of a building constructed at a Bible College in Coban Guatemala from offerings received in our churches. In 2002 I was able to visit that Bible College!  What was once just words on a page and pictures in a book became a real place and I was able to walk there!

This past week I have been attending the global meeting of my denomination.  It took place in the city in which I live.  I met new friends and saw some long-time friends as well.  The church is a family.  At present I have helped some folks get back to the airport so that they can go back to the towns and villages where they live and serve.  Today I delivered a District Superintendent from Sao Paulo Brazil to the airport, two weeks ago I had never met him, today we are forever friends!  I spent part of the last day with a Medical Doctor and his wife from Rio de Janeiro Brazil.  He was a poor nearly homeless boy and someone invited him to church.  After the service he told the pastor that he wanted to become a Christian.  He became involved in the church and felt God wanted him to become a doctor.  He practices medicine and is a leader in our church.  Everything in his life changed when he came to Christ.  That would be my testimony as well.

I have been spending some time over the last couple of days with about fifteen people from Papua New Guinea.  They are wonderful people who have an enthusiasm for God and life. Their world is so different from mine.  Yet Christ has made an impact and a difference in their lives as well as mine. Soon they will board a plane and travel back across the globe.  The thing I enjoy most about the General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene is that I have a renewed sense of how beautiful, diverse and unified heaven will be.  Though the world is vast tonight it seems somewhat smaller to me, because I have brothers and sister all around the world.  Whether I will see them again here on earth, is an open question, but I will see them in heaven some day and that is a settled fact.

Dr and Mrs. Millet

 

3 Thoughts to “The World is Large Yet In Some Ways Smaller”

  1. Darryl Bogatay

    Dr. Ron; A Great WH today. Indeed a reminder of the diverse/unity of our church. For certain in 160+ World Areas and with the election of our 2 newest, (of our 6 Leaders we call General Superintendents) – we truly can say, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the church of the Nazarene is now, and I pray it always will be – A GLOBAL Church!

  2. Susanne Blake

    Great reminder that we all really do need each other from time to time. I have been blessed beyond measure because of my salvation through Jesus Christ. I am thankful to have spend some time also this week with new friends from Brazil and Paupa New Guinea. Thanks be to God for his faithful care all around the world.

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