The Loneliest Feeling,
The Final Week!
There I was sitting across the table from the girl who had broken my heart. Through conversation she had told me that she had a new boyfriend, and that she was happy. Though I wasn't completely convinced and still hesitant as to why she had instigated having breakfast alone with me. I was also happy for this new opportunity to travel, and casually mentioned that Bogota would most likely not be in my itinerary because I didn't want to make her family feel obligated or uncomfortable.
"Jared, my family would love to see you. Berta asks about you all the time."
"Really? Should we really go to the park? I know Austin would find it very interesting."
"Seriously, you should go. They would love to see you again." was the response I was given.
If she had any reservations about our breaking up she wasn't hitting to me about them. I expressed my desire to visit her family and made it clear that if I were to travel through Bogota, I would make every effort to visit them.
Months later, on buses through Ecuador we realized that our departure flight out of BOG airport in Bogota, Colombia was drawing dangerously close. I also realized that she had been correct, we should make a visit and say hi to everyone while in the city.
After sending emails and messages on facebook, I was growing concerned. None of my messages received a response. I persistently continued trying to contact my old friend, if for no other reason just to get an address. As time passed without a response I actually grew concerned. I had no contacted her since leaving the U.S. and was worried that something may be wrong.
Finally, the day before leaving Quito, Ecuador, and saying goodbye to my friends Ryan and Erica, I received my response. "Jared, I wanted to be friends, but this is too stressful. I hope you understand that I cannot be friends with you any longer. I don't want you to ever email me again, and I am deleting you as a friend on facebook. If you must visit my family please contact my mother for directions and information."
That was it. There I sat, despite being in a tiny apartment with four people I was flooded with a sense of loneliness. I never expected our relationship to be anything other than friends and for the longest time was completely comfortable breaking all contact. What had changed? Why would someone stir my emotions and ask to be friends only to reply with such a blunt email the very next time we had contact?
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| These shoes had walked around South America; Tomorrow they were coming home to Charlotte. |
I didn't understand it then, and I'm sure I don't understand it now, but God had an important lesson for me. God is the only one who gives Joy. We may find happiness or contentment in many things both good and bad. Jesus told the woman at the well. "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:13-14. This is true joy and fulfillment in life, to know Christ and have joy like a fountain coming from within.
We did go to Bogota, and we were treated like royalty. I planned to post a blog about those last two days, but I will surmise by saying a deep heart-felt thanks to the Torres family. Those last days were perfect and I hope I can one day show you how much your hospitality meant to my brother and I who were so tired, weak, and poor (literally, I had spent my last $10 in Quito). So Thank You once again! You were a world-class send off from our Adventure in South America!
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| THANK YOU! |
