Daily Devotions - Monday, October 13

Hellos and Goodbyes

“Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified
for the Lord your God goes with you
and will never leave or forsake you.”
--Moses to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 31: 6)

“We must learn to let go as easily as we grasp
or we will find our hands full and our minds empty.
Though every hello is the beginning of a goodbye, do not lose heart;
for every goodbye may also be the beginning of another hello.”--Leo Buscaglia (The Way of the Bull), p. 63

A number of years ago Mr. Buscaglia took a wonderful journey through Asia assimilating their traditions into his understanding about the mystery of life. In Asia the bull symbolically represents life. So, another way to title the book could be The Way of Life.

Today’s scripture verse finds Moses giving a “goodbye speech”. He is turning over the torch of leadership to Joshua. Today we find Leo Buscaglia in Saigon growing in his understanding of the “hello-goodbye-hello” saga that is so much a part of life.

As Buscaglia free-lanced throughout Asia he met Lat, a tour guide who invited him to be a part of her tour group. Lat was very personable and welcoming. He returned her kindness, inviting her to dinner that night. He learned a great deal about Vietnamese culture (after dinner they went to an opera) and they made plans to meet again the next day for additional touring. She didn’t show the next day at the appointed time but as he writes, “I returned to my hotel to find a note that read, ‘Work did not permit me any free time to see you again. Continue to have a good trip. Return to Saigon after the war.”

Today in our life we may discover the “hello-goodbye-hello” saga. Enjoy gaining all you can from every encounter with another person of God’s creation.

A prayer: God, keep me receptive. Amen.

Ben Keckler
10.13.08