Third Culture Thriving

Much of this life is just not absolute. There are lots of uncertainties, lots of grey areas, lots of things changing all the time. We find one rhythm that feels like it works for us, and then something changes and throws that off. We think we've found the right house staff, but our needs change. Flight prices go up, roads close, your favorite cereal isn't imported for a few months, pandemic regulations shake up your plans. It can be easy to feel a bit unmoored *often* in your life overseas. Things rarely stay consistent.

So today, I want to encourage you to do something: just, try things out. Experiment. Explore. Don't commit to a certain rhythm or make decisions quickly. Take time to see what feels good. See what sticks.

Today, I want to do something a little different. I want to give you three metaphors that I've found useful as I've traveled through similar phases of acedia myself, that you can use for personal meditation, prayer, or journaling. My hope is that these metaphors will help you see your host country as the gift that it is for your journey, and that you would come to appreciate the beauty in the Lord's bringing you here in this timing, for his purposes and delight.

Today's episode is part book review, part hearty book endorsement. I first read the book The Wisdom of Stability by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove fairly soon after it's release. You may know his name from his association with Shane Claiborne and the New Monastics movement, and as such, he is a truly perfect person to write a book about staying put.

Today is a big one, friends. If you'll permit me, I want to gently and graciously tackle one of the biggest questions I get in my work with Third Culture Thriving: should I stay, should I go? How do I know when it's time to leave my host country?

I want start by saying that I do not intend to give your any kind of answers or even framework for finding answers here. Simply, I want to give you some questions to think through and remind you of some truths as you journey through this difficult question.

Finding time to quiet ourselves and process our lives can be a challenge. Our lives overseas can be chaotic, unpredictable, and demand so much from us. And when we do find that space, often we find ourselves so overwhelmed with all of our thoughts and feelings, it can be difficult to figure out where to begin.

Our lives feel like one big jumble in our brains. Where do we start?

Introducing the Third Culture Thriving journaling and reflection deck

A simple, beautiful, intentional tool to help guide your times of processing and quiet.

The status quo, the way it's always been done is only helpful if it's truly helping everyone. If it's not? Remember your agency. The health of your family and ministry are the most important, and from that will flow the goodness of the Lord's calling for you in your host country. Remember your agency, and make the shifts you need.

In keeping with our September Intentions Project theme of Patience, a replay of a popular early TCT episode.

To set the tone here, what constitutes a dirty home and what clean will mean to any of us is entirely subjective. So rather than outlining a cleaning schedule for you in this episode, instead I'm going to talk through some principles that you can think about or questions that you can ask yourself, that will help you create your own plan off action. Ready?

We talk often about the tension between wanting to be as generous as possible and also needing to maintain healthy boundaries. While this is a worthwhile conversation to have, it's one that is centered solely around our comfort and ability to be healthy and continue to give. It's necessary to also look at the other side of this situation- how our generosity affects the people on the receiving end.

Is stayng or going constantly on the table for you, because you don't have any specific term commitment? Consider instituting your own terms of commitment and times of reevaluation!