Packing before flying home from holidays are always a nightmare. Shopping here and shopping there – and suddenly you ask yourself, how all the goodies came together in that little time…
Yes, it is time to fly back and to pick up life where it stopped – the first days are always a nightmare, all the mail and requests, waiting to be answered and worked through. It takes normally a week before normality crawls in again. Makes it seven normal working weeks until hand-over of the chaplaincy.
It is still a funny feeling to know, that my chaplains life will come to an end. After that long period it seems unimaginable not to care for this community and to be part of it. Well, it means a bitter-sweat farewell at the end. On one hand you know that nothing is eternal and every period of life comes to an end, but it is bitter when it comes in a way not expected or deserved. I am grateful for those 12, 5 years – I don’t want to miss a second.. well, maybe a couple of seconds could be missed, but generally it was such a fulfilled time.
So my packing before flying home reminds me also that the time for the big move comes soon – and it will start already next week with moving flats. My lease is coming to an end – and as I don’t want to wait under the bridge before renting again, I have to secure at least a roof over my head. Small practical things – overlooked when big decisions are at steak.
Well, let’s hope that the pilot find the way first to Singapore, then to Johannesburg and Cape Town; and that my luggage will also arrive in one piece. Going via Johannesburg means one has a reasonable chance to find less in the suitcase than packed… Cross my thumbs..
Filed under: Reflection, farewell, holiday, moving
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 