Today I turn 32 and of course that causes me to reflect on my life. I mean normally, I would be going to work at school today, a few students would tell me “Happy Birthday”, I would have dinner with some friends, and probably have a small party on the weekend prior or after. I might do something special like go to a concert or get a tattoo. However, I am awakened at 6AM as I am sleeping under a mosquito net on a less than comfortable couch in Haripur, Nepal a small village close to India. So, I will not have a normal birthday today. I will probably drink milk from a water buffalo, sweat a lot, and not eat at a restaurant because there is no restaurant within hours of here. On days like this I really miss America, but I also can’t help but learn lessons from this experience.
The American Box says you should do things this way or that way. You should at least be married or divorced by the time you are my age. You should have a blossoming career with great benefits, own a house, and you better have children soon if you ever want them. All of those things are great and many people I know fit in that box, but I am busting out of it. I don’t fit in any of those categories. It would be very easy for me to start this new year of my life and put those expectations on myself, but I have no one to please but God. Busting OUT!
The biggest lesson I have learned this year is how free I am in Christ. I have no one to please except Him. I don’t have to live up to the expectations of my pastor, my parents, my employers, or anyone else. The biggest part of the box in America that I have encountered are those of Christians. Nobody likes to put you in a box like a Christian. I have been guilty of this. I have judged people for not doing things the way I would have done them because “that’s what the Bible says.” The only box I want to be in is the one God creates for me and I’m pretty sure he loves me so much that He doesn’t put me in a box. He allows me to live life freely. Busting OUT!
One thing that is very common in every country I go to is every culture has a box. Many involve things like you must have a job or not have a job because you are a woman, you should be married between a specific age range, you can or can’t do many things: drink alcohol, get tattoos, play cards, show your shoulders, show your knees, show your feet, and the list goes on. Some countries have bigger boxes than others, but the common thread is expectations are put on you that you never asked for, nor is their purpose other than “that’s how we do it here.” Sounds just like pockets of America to me. I still believe our country is amazing and I love America and am anticipating my return there very soon, but we do that too. Here are my expectations for you and if you don’t live up to them you’re a disappointment. We are not God. Jesus says, “Love your God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” So, that’s all I have to do? Wow, that makes life easier and more difficult all at the same time. It’s truly hard to love people you don’t want to love, it’s so much easier to put them in a box, tie a pretty bow on it and call it love.
So, as I begin this day, my only birthday on the World Race in Nepal, I want to challenge everyone who decides to read this to bust out of the box. Love people regardless of who they are, what they believe, what they look like, or what they do or have done. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, this principle of loving your neighbor applies and would make our world so much better. Spend more time loving than complaining and I promise you will be happier and probably make more friends! I’m going to go burn this box now and go find some Nepali people to love today!
Please visit this site to help me out on this birthday to make it back to America!
https://www.wepay.com/donations/angie-s-only-world-race-birthday
