How I long to go back to Sri Lanka!

Once Lord Buddha said, the wind coming from his birth place is comforting and smoothing to his soul. King David expressed his inner longings to drink water from the well near his birthplace of the Bethlehem gate: "David said longingly, "O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!" (2 Sam 23:15).

That inspired the heroism of three men, who broke the fearsome stronghold defenses of the Philistines, just to fulfill the longings of their friend and leader:

"Then the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD, 17 for he said, "The LORD forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things" (2 Samuel 23:16-17).

This picture remind me of Sri Lanka and how I long to go back home. Once I wrote to a friend these words:

"I dream about Sri Lanka: In my dreams, I walk across paddy fields, jump and enjoy the water in the streams, I smell the wind that comes brushing through the fields, which have paddy just ripen for harvest. I feel walking on the green grass and gaze into the magnificent beauty of a lake [Wava] with abundance of dancing lotus flowers, glittering with sunrays and cool and refreshing breeze coming across the water's edge. I miss the sunshine falling across the trees, while the cool air touches gently on the face, blowing away the hair. I miss the blue and white seacoast and sunset at the horizon, just about to leave the light and let the night to take its turn. So you see, I am really home sick! I enjoy all these small things, while I was in Sri Lanka (Do you remember in my classes, how often I have told you all to enjoy these little things!). I traveled to and fro to different places like Anuradhapra, Mathara, Trinco etc., etc., Now, I am like in a prison, rather, a house arrest. But you see, I realize God has his own purposes for us. God has his prerogatives (a right or privilege exclusive to God, to do what ever he wants!). He has exclusive right to do what ever with our lives. Some times his purposes contradict with what is happening in our lives [we called reality]. Yet God is in control. Our God is a good God, loving Father, Saviour of our souls, close friend in need and he is indeed our dear Lord. This is what I have learned in past months."