Today we went on a prayer walk through the village and as we walked along the paths through the rice fields on dirt roads, I was just thinking and looking around at the beauty of this country. It’s so hot here and we are dripping in sweat, but our contact points across the field to a mountain the distance and tells us it’s called “Snow Mountain” because there is a lot of snow there. I don’t like cold anything including snow, but it sounded nice since it is so hot here. Back to my walk, so I am walking along the path of dirt and after a little while I look back down and the dirt had become sand. My first thought was “Where did that sand come from?” Then my second thought was a much deeper one about how quickly the ground below us can change. Our footing no longer remains the same and we are no longer able to continue walking without looking at the ground and watching our every step.
By now, you are probably wondering where I am going with this one. Well, let me explain. If you walk with your head up, you are only looking at what is ahead, not at your feet and where they currently are. Right? Well, then as a result of walking with your head up, sometimes things just change right below your feet because you are not so fixated on where your feet are wandering, but on what your senses are showing you about your environment. So, as you are focused, things change without you knowing.
Still not sure where I am going? Okay, well my mind has been wandering about what it will be like when I return to America and as I walked today I realized things have changed about me, within me, and definitely in my thinking. I have just been walking around not looking at the ground and it changed. So, when I return, I am returning different. Then there are all my friends and family who have had 11 months to grow and change too. We are all going to be different. I am sure some more than others and I am sure there will be a few people who haven’t changed much because they spend too much time staring at their feet.
Get it now? I hope so because I want you to know that my perspective of people, religion, God, Christianity, love, faith, grace, and I could probably keep going has all changed. It still is every time I meet another amazing person on this journey who challenges me to think different. So, I might look the same when I get home. (I have not been one of those people to lose weight on this journey—too many carbs in these countries) I really doubt I will sound the same. I have learned to be quiet more, so I may speak less. However, I am pretty sure I have learned to love better so that should benefit every one reading this :O)
Thank you to those who have given so far. I still need to raise more funds to reestablish myself in America so if you can give, it will be much appreciated. Thank you for reading and supporting me!
https://www.wepay.com/donations/angie-s-only-world-race-birthday
