I grew up thinking I knew exactly who I was, who I wanted to become and what I wanted out of life. When I was in middle school I was going to be an elementary school teacher with an amazing husband, a beautiful house and completely well behaved children. Yet, in life we change and are shaped into something deeper and this is completely beyond our control. It is not that we become a completely different person via this grandiose metamorphosis but rather it is a quiet fire that starts in your heart, spreads to your bones and infects your mind. My fire was set ablaze in high school by none other than the man upstairs, yes, Jesus. I didn’t expect to grow up to want nothing less than just a life for Jesus. When I was infected it was strange and it was unlike anything I have ever felt, you see when Jesus took over my heart I was a baby but when he took over my whole being and wrecked my life I was a teenager. God’s timing and planning is never off.
I have struggled and I have suffered but haven’t we all.
I have fallen short of the Glory of God but haven’t we all.
I don’t deserve to be unconditionally loved but I am and so are you.
I learned that my life is not determined by what my plan is but rather by what God’s plan is for me. I want to be a missionary and I want to live the rest of my life for my Heavenly Father.
Let’s talk more about the good part of the infection of my brain and the absolute wreck of a life I have. I’m now a senior and as a senior your biggest duty is to determine where you go after this phase in your life, as the Class of 2014 I can say that every day it seemed as if our life and next steps were predetermined for us, College. It is as plain and as simple as one word, college, yet for some reason at this point in time I can’t take that word and select it for my next step. When I was initially asked if I was ready for college my answer was well I have no choice. One day though the “are you ready for college?” became “Have you ever thought about taking some time off next year to travel and do missionary work?” No. I had never thought about such a ludicrous thing, people my age don’t ever think about anything besides college this or college that. I know one day I want to be a missionary but I had never thought about taking the time off before college. It was in that moment that the fire had reached my brain, I knew I couldn’t be stopped I went home and I researched semester long mission trips. I would have to figure out the rest but a three month mission trip to Africa?! What more could I ask for? How about nine months, that’s what I could ask for. The World Race: Gap Year, nine months three continents I took the leap of faith and I have signed up…
…And I am going on the World Race: Gap Year, I will be abandoning everything I know and love, for nine months and for what purpose? To live more abundantly… to love freely and to share the good news. Yes, I will be halfway around the world at times but I truly believe that this is an experience that I have been called to, one of many joys and experiences.
