Another year of summer fun, excitement, adventure, serving Lord Jagannatha on His festival tour.
Two dozen spirit souls gather for their first bus tour orientation meeting. Expectant, curious, wide-eyed. What will this summer bring?
They're God's children, every one of them, sent on the festival tour for a short time, eight weeks, allowing my wife and I the privilege to serve them.
The tour unfolds, potential's fanned, character discovered, memories made, history written, devotees pleased, hearts shared, spirits uplifted, friendships forged.
I try not to get attached. They're God's children, here for a short while only, and when they leave the tour I may never see them again. Little blessings, fallen angels, dusting off their wings, preparing to take flight again.
And fly away they must, in pursuit of their own destiny. Each has their purpose to fulfill. June turns to July turns to August... the festival tour is over. It's time to say goodbye. Perhaps one of them will some day lead a festival tour spreading the Holy Name around in a far distant corner of the world. The thought comforts me.
Yet there's that anxious feeling I imagine a gander would have, tossing his young goslings out of the nest, encouraging them to fly, wishing them well, watching pieces of his heart scatter across the sky.
They're God's children, I remind myself, not mine. Let them fly. Let them fly.
