I crouched on the living room floor wrestling with a small dog when I spotted it: the gigantic framed map of the world leaning against the wall.

I crawled slowly over to it. I don't know where the dog went, maybe it vanished. Who cares. I sat cross-legged in front of it for over an hour as I fell in love with the Earth.

Why did it have that effect on me? I don't know, but I tracing my finger over every name of every city in every corner of this big blue world made my heart swell with gratitude.

In two point five weeks, I'll find out where I go. To love, to teach, to serve. And I'll know that nowhere on the face of this whole planet can compare with where I am sent, even if it's Boise, Idaho; because I have been prepared my whole life, without even knowing it, to meet the people I will meet there. I know in my mind and in my heart that this is a most sacred work.