I’ve been back in the country for about two weeks now. After an initial 72 hour period with about four hours of sleep, I have since slept an average of 8 or 9 hours each night since then. This means that thankfully, I have conquered jet lag, and with much more haste than the experts’ prediction of a day for each time zone crossed.

My routine these days entails a lot of sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and spending time in atmospheric locations where coffee is sold and people like myself go to type. You know, all the things you’d expect from an unemployed 24-year-old recently returned from Southeast Asia who is trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, or at least with his immediate future. I do have some ideas that are pending, but for the moment I’m in limbo. Many of you were aware that I had applied for a two-year position in Cambodia, but you may not know that I have since withdrawn from the selection process. This was a the culmination of a tough process of prayer and soul-searching over the past month. The future is now wide open, but I have peace about it.

I wasn’t sure what it would be like to return home after my 92-day hiatus from life as usual, but in many ways, it was as if I had never left. There are a few new turning lanes and stop lights on the roads, there is a nice new coffeeshop on Prince Street, and the heat of August has given way to Old Man Winter, but otherwise things are basically the same. Of course, I doubt it is possible to spend three months in Cambodia (or anywhere) and come back unchanged. These changes have been mostly subtle, however, which has led me to identify as of late with the words of Paul Simon when he sang: “Nothing is different but everything has changed.”

I thought that once I returned home I’d be able to articulate what these three months have meant to me, but I still haven’t found the words. Nonetheless, in the coming week I will have two opportunities to share publicly about my time in Cambodia.

This Sunday (the 17th) I will be speaking for five minutes or so during the evening service at Calvary Church about what I was doing this fall and how it has influenced my life, and I will have some photos to share. The service runs from 6 to 7.15pm and I’ll most likely be speaking towards the beginning of that time. Anyone is welcome to come on out for that.

I’ll also be speaking briefly at C4, the young adult ministry at Calvary, during the weekly large group gathering this Tuesday (the 19th) at 7.30pm. So if you consider yourself a young adult, feel free to swing by.

Finally, and slightly off topic, the C4 Christmas coffeehouse will be this Friday (the 15th) at 7pm in the student ministry wing at Calvary and best of all, it is free. There will be hot beverages, tasty treats, and a whole slew of Christmas music performed live by super-talented artists. A few skilled orators like myself (ha!) will also be doing Christmas readings that are sure to warm our hearts and stir our affection for the One this season is all about.

You can only hope I’ll be wearing a festive holiday sweater.