Re-entry Stress
I first heard of “Re-entry Stress” when the USA’s Space Shuttle was returning to the earth. The shuttle needed to approach the earth’s atmosphere at the perfect angle of there was some serious consequences to face – like destruction of the whole crew. There was a window of opportunity that the Shuttle had to approach carefully and then shoot through at the right time and the right angle related to the earth. If this was missed it would mean more circling the earth before coming back to the same window again. This would allow the Shuttle to land where it should – not in Russia or the middle of the ocean. This would also make sure the descent angle was correct – too deep it would burn up and too shallow it would glance off into space again (maybe never get home).
It was at a mission’s conference for missionaries that I first heard this term used in relationship to people returning their home countries from overseas. There was re-entry stress for people – just like the Space Shuttles. Too deep an angle it would burn up and too shallow it would never get home – or make it at home. Countless stories were given as it was confirmed that real good people had not made it back alive spiritually – when returning home. Often their pain and deep needs were never revealed and they simply drifted into a bad situation after another bad situation. Other times they lost it with moral failures that were simply disastrous and whole families were destroyed in the re-entry burn up.
Today – after two weeks away I feel the danger again. The stress of returning to a world that doesn’t really know what we were subjected to… the stress of having a real world here jump up and bite me when I am tired and low in spirits – is real. The natural way is to put up a defense with the way we do things. Then the next step…is to isolate the realties of the life around and go into a no-zone layer that keeps the feelings alive from the missions work but keeps out the unpleasantness from this world.
And we were only away two weeks and a few days… think what happens to people that have completed four years and then leave a country that is now their own. Think what happens to the children of this family that are removed from familiar places in their new adopted countries and then thrust back to Canada and all its abnormal ways – in relationship to their other home country – say Malawi, Zambia or Kenya. The re-entry stress is immense… staggering in fact… and can be deadly actually.
Prayer is appreciated… but some one to listen is even better. I am burdened by the re-entry stress again. I am burdened for the missionaries that will walk through this today… and in weeks to come. I hope I can be there to help them again.
“An experience is not learning” was a statement that I picked up in the last week. The person making it explained that unless we are able to reflect deeply and apply some theological framework to what we have experienced – we have not really made it part of our lives – we are still tourists (the last part I added). We haven’t learned what it is all about.
These weeks I am moving from simply having had an experience to making all of it part of my life. I am taking it deeper and reflecting on every inch of the experience we had in Kenya.
Oh it is good to be home… but it is so good to be able to lessen the stress too.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
It was at a mission’s conference for missionaries that I first heard this term used in relationship to people returning their home countries from overseas. There was re-entry stress for people – just like the Space Shuttles. Too deep an angle it would burn up and too shallow it would never get home – or make it at home. Countless stories were given as it was confirmed that real good people had not made it back alive spiritually – when returning home. Often their pain and deep needs were never revealed and they simply drifted into a bad situation after another bad situation. Other times they lost it with moral failures that were simply disastrous and whole families were destroyed in the re-entry burn up.
Today – after two weeks away I feel the danger again. The stress of returning to a world that doesn’t really know what we were subjected to… the stress of having a real world here jump up and bite me when I am tired and low in spirits – is real. The natural way is to put up a defense with the way we do things. Then the next step…is to isolate the realties of the life around and go into a no-zone layer that keeps the feelings alive from the missions work but keeps out the unpleasantness from this world.
And we were only away two weeks and a few days… think what happens to people that have completed four years and then leave a country that is now their own. Think what happens to the children of this family that are removed from familiar places in their new adopted countries and then thrust back to Canada and all its abnormal ways – in relationship to their other home country – say Malawi, Zambia or Kenya. The re-entry stress is immense… staggering in fact… and can be deadly actually.
Prayer is appreciated… but some one to listen is even better. I am burdened by the re-entry stress again. I am burdened for the missionaries that will walk through this today… and in weeks to come. I hope I can be there to help them again.
“An experience is not learning” was a statement that I picked up in the last week. The person making it explained that unless we are able to reflect deeply and apply some theological framework to what we have experienced – we have not really made it part of our lives – we are still tourists (the last part I added). We haven’t learned what it is all about.
These weeks I am moving from simply having had an experience to making all of it part of my life. I am taking it deeper and reflecting on every inch of the experience we had in Kenya.
Oh it is good to be home… but it is so good to be able to lessen the stress too.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Monday, April 30, 2007
1 Comments:
Murray, please take reassurance in the fact that not all of the world is here to jump up and bite you. You have people, friends, who truly care and want more than anything to be here for you and Alida and support you in any way we can. We are most definitely willing to listen, even if we don't completely understand what you have been through and are feeling. We are not here to condemn or judge anyone in any way. We want to be a safe harbour where you can feel peace and be completely at ease. We are here to support you dear brother and sister. We care deeply and are here to do more than just pray for you; you only need to allow us to do whatever we can for you. You are not alone, you are very much loved and respected. I have said this before, I thank God for you and your willingness to serve our Lord in whatever way He sees fit. I appreciate your openness and the vulnerability you show in being obedient to God. You have a very tender and sincere heart.
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