No Man Is An Island

Sometimes missionaries have to return home early. It can happen for any number of reasons. One of our missionaries was called home by his country to serve in the military before his mission release date. Others leave with unexpected injuries, illnesses, or other health conditions - either physical and emotional. Some leave to go home because the demands of missionary life are more than they can handle. A few simply do not or cannot abide by missionary standards of conduct. There are probably as many reasons as there are early returning missionaries.

Early releases happen in every mission. And while it is an ending for those of us who must say goodbye, it is just the beginning of a new chapter for the missionary. Every mission served, no matter how short or how long, is a blessing not only to the people they served, but to the missionary. Whether they served for seven days, seven months, or seventeen months, they served, they learned, and they grew. As in all walks of life, God is pleased with our every effort.

Whatever the reason, it is hard on everyone who knows and loves a missionary to watch as they depart - and most missionaries have no idea how many people that involves, or how many people truly care about them! Many hearts are affected throughout a mission as a missionary returns home, regardless of the length of time served.

I am quite certain that no returning missionary ever really knows how many lives he or she touched. Actually, I am quite certain that is true for all humankind as we live our lives day to day.

There are many different kinds of comings and goings in life. During the last month, four dear friends of ours have lost their husbands to death. While reflecting on these good men at the time of their passing, Don and I have recalled many wonderful times spent with them and many life lessons learned from their noble examples. Because we have not been home to attend these men's funerals, we have sent cards with a brief note about their influence in our lives. It hasn't done them justice. Oh, how I wish we had expressed our respect and love in more detail while they were alive!

I have been to more than one funeral where I looked around the chapel and observed that the person who has passed would be quite surprised to see the size of the congregation and the number of people whose lives he or she influenced - which has given me pause to consider the question:  Why do we often wait until someone is gone to express our gratitude for them and recognize how much they mean to us?

It doesn't just happen in the mission field. So often, we don't take the time to tell people how grateful we are for them and how their life has affected ours for good. Maybe we're afraid to express emotion. Maybe the busyness of life distracts us. Maybe pride stops us. Maybe we don't even recognize their influence until it is gone. Who knows?

What a better place the world would be if we took the time to let others know what they mean to us on a more regular basis.

As John Donne so admirably wrote around the year 1600:
"No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,
As well as if thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminished me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee."

--Pat--