Daily Devotions, October 17

One More Hello - Goodbye

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

It's time for a weekend, but let me share one more “hello-goodbye-hello” story that continues to recharge my life. Our tour guide in Rwanda was Suzanne, a charismatic Kenyan who is forging her career in this post-genocidal culture. She is powerful and articulate. As we were preparing to leave Rwanda, I had learned that Suzanne could use some rechargeable batteries and so I gave her four of my batteries, wishing her well. She was overwhelmed with my apparently generous gift and reached into her pocket to give me some Rwandan coins as a return gift. None of us had seen any coins the entire week! She explained that the coins are no longer used, but are valued for collection. “Share them with your grandchildren,” she said.

I can't wait to share the stories of Suzanne – the hello-goodbye-hello – as my grandchildren grow to appreciate the journeys of the heart. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

A prayer: God, keep me receptive. Amen.

--Ben Keckler
10.17.08

Daily Devotions - Thursday, October 16

Hello and Goodbye, A Part of Life

“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

While in Rwanda we were privileged to meet Monique Ladosz, a Swiss born woman who has known pain and loss. She has learned from her “hello-goodbye-hello” experiences and is applying them to life. She now runs a technical school, helping some of the most traumatized young people of the country. She has discovered ways to help young people find a safe haven to talk about problems they generally keep within! She teaches these young people trades (sewing, woodworking, making greeting cards). She prepares them for life beyond the technical school.

There was a special bond between Monique and the young people. She was the first to admit that, while she is quite attached to the children and young people, she must prepare them for life's “hello-goodbye-hello” experiences. I'm glad we could learn from Monique.

A prayer: God, keep me receptive. Amen.

Ben Keckler
10.16.08

Daily Devotions - Tuesday, October 14

Hello - Goodbye

“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

My recent trip to Rwanda was organized through a Rwandan based tourism group, New Dawn Associates. The founder of this relatively new business is a young German who said goodbye to his native Germany and said hello to Rwanda a few years after the genocide. Their work is better detailed on the web.

One of Michael's great gifts is empowering Rwandans to lead this company. While we were there he was invited to travel with the President of Rwanda to another emerging African country and teach his methods of business development and empowerment. He seems to live what Buscaglia is teaching: there is a rhythm in every “hello-goodbye-hello” exchange. Hope you have a “hello-goodbye” moment today!

A prayer: God, keep me receptive. Amen.

Ben Keckler
10.14.08

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