No one wants to read lyrics to a song they’ve never heard…it’s boring, has no context and doesn’t have the same effect as a song would that you know. So, before you keep reading, I suggest listening to the song Life keeps moving on by Ben Rector. I’ll only quote bits of it...but listen to the whole thing anyway. Here's the truth Life sucks sometimes When it hurts so bad that you can't go on Life keeps moving on When it's good When you're flying higher When your feet float up above the ground around you Life keeps moving on I agree with this song. Sometimes life kinda, well...stinks. And sometimes, it doesn’t. Either way, the world keeps turning; our life continues. I have currently lived in Asia for 3 months. And it has been really hard. Really. Hard. *Warning: This blog doesn’t have some type of happy-go-lucky ending where I have already solved all my problems. This is real life folks. So. It’s hard. Go figure - I mean, what can I expect, moving half way across the globe? Nothing is familiar...accept maybe the Pantene conditioner that I bought at the store. The most taxing thing for me has been the heat. I’m one of those people who loves the winter...the snow, cold, winter clothes, all of it. If we can’t be friends after you read that, it’s fine, I can accept that. But here’s the thing about the heat - it’s not just that I’m sweating, it’s that I don’t even feel like I can enter into what I’m being called to do because of it. I love walking around, meeting new people and developing relationships with them. I love serving others - especially the poor. But after being out of my house (which has the comfort of a fan) for a couple hours, I start getting so fatigued and plagued by headaches that the only way I can get myself to be a functioning human is to remind myself to keep breathing and drink water. This is basic stuff, right? I mean, I’m having to remind my body to breathe. I didn’t think that was part of the deal when I signed on to do this whole thing. The beauty in this, is that despite my inability to live as I typically would, Jesus is stronger than me and can do whatever He wants to do. He can do things in and through me, even if I can’t see them. Even if I don’t think I’m doing anything...He can do things. I’d also like to amend my last blog post: My main point of “I can do hard things” is quite inaccurate. I can’t do hard things. And as I was so kindly reminded by a friend (shout out to Chris), I can only do hard things through Christ…because of Christ. And if I cling to Him and allow Him to be the center of my life and literally take hold of me and everything I do - then He can be the one moving in and through me. And He can be the one doing the hard things that I can’t do. So, when life is hard, as it will be, and as I can expect it to be, I can also expect life to keep moving on. No matter how hot I wake up in the morning, or how much sweat my clothes collect throughout the day, life will keep moving on. But, my life isn’t just about moving along this hard, meaningless, aimless path of waking up day after day. Because of Christ. And no matter how hard things get, aren’t I supposed to believe that He’s bringing about something good - despite life’s challenges? Isn’t that what I say I believe if I believe in Christ? That He is good, can only do good things and desires to give me a full life? So, that’s what I’m choosing to believe. Because I know that’s what I believe, even if it’s hard. Because I refuse to believe in a God who would give His friends something bad - a God who become human only to be killed by His own people, to then return back to those same people, making it possible to be with them forever in Heaven. No, that God could only go through all of that because He wants to give His friends the best…His Good. I read this the other day in prayer and I don’t know if there will come a time in life when it will become easier to read…I guess I’ll find out. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whosever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life?” -Mark 8:35-37
1 Comment
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hey.my moto is summarized best by these words:
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.” -Brene Brown thanks Brene. you're quite the gal. Past Musings
July 2020
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