Words from the past... lessons in the present

Amy Carmichael wrote while on one of her retreats to her jungle home in India,

"There is so much sadness in the world, so many hearts ache, so many tears fall, it is rather wonderful to be away for a little while in a tearless world, left just as GOD made it... these elemental things seem to carry one back to the beginnings, the fundamentals, the things that cannot be shaken, ancient verities (truths)  of GOD."

I read those words tonight while laying in bed immersed in yet another missions book. I am currently reading Elizabeth Elliot's A Chance to Die, a biography of Amy Carmichael. It is a book that I had started reading years ago, but never got very far with. I am now almost done with it and loving every bit of it. 

Amy Carmichael was a young woman from Ireland who spent time serving in Japan, China and Sri Lanka before settling in India. She spent 53 years in India without a furlough home to Ireland. She gave her heart and life to the women and children of India. In particular she worked to rescue children from being sold to the Hindu temples to work as servants and/or prostitutes. She founded the Dohnavur Fellowship and saw countless children rescued and loved in a safe place where the love of Christ permeated every aspect of life. Breaking down the barriers of caste, economy, culture and religion. She was an inspiring lady. Tough, stubborn, strong, determined, committed. That was Amy Carmichael. 

What I quoted from her is just one of many inspiring/encouraging things she wrote in her lifetime. She wrote a great deal to those back home, as well in her personal journals. Apparently she often times went through her journals and destroyed entire sections (if not entire journals) in an order to keep her thoughts private and hidden. That made me laugh because while I was packing to move this past spring I did the same thing. I got rid of all of my journals up until my senior year of college. The idea of getting rid of those things that I wouldn't want anyone to read and knowing that they are gone now is somewhat comforting in a strange way. But anyway... her writings are very interesting and give a pretty good picture of how tough she was. 

I resonate with the quote I wrote out above. I have often written about how my heart aches for the world. How I am so ready for the new heaven and new earth to get here so that all the heartache will end. But I haven't always done a good job of writing about those things in light of the everlasting truths of GOD or retreating in a way that brings me back to them. I think that is something I need to learn to do better and perhaps Amy Carmichael can help me do that through her experiences and writings from days long gone.

I know that the International Conference on Missions next week will be a good place to start. I always find a renewed passion for missions and ministry in general when I go to the conference. I love the conversations I get to have with old friends and the people I get to meet and build new friendships with. I am inspired by the work being done by so many men and women who just have a fire in their eyes when they talk about the people they serve. I always am renewed whenever I go and worship with the missionaries and students and church leaders at the conference. I always feel like my restless, wandering missions heart is filled. And it's always refreshing to be reminded of how yes, things are tough and ugly in the world, but GOD's kingdom is still growing and the fundamentals of who GOD is remain pure and true. 

I have a lot to learn yet about turning my heart to the truths of GOD when my heart starts to ache because of the world. But I know that I am not the first to learn these lessons and that I have some pretty amazing people to look to for insight. People like Amy Carmichael.