It’s been nearly 5 months now since I’ve left the good ol’ US of A. Being away from the heavily saturated lifestyle and pursuit of the American dream has shaken me deep in my heart. I’m on an adventure of a life time! Yet, I’m not quite sure if I’m under clarity or insanity. But I know I came on this trip for plenty of right reasons but with a singularly wrong mistake; to go on an adventure.
Before I considered leaving the US, I always highly admired those who left their homes to experience the world on a wild adventure. They’d come back, starry eyed, with hundreds of pictures and stories. It often seemed unreal. I had been reading about successful people and they seemed to always leave at a young age to test themselves out in the world. The more I heard and read, I started to become desperate to leave. The mere idea of the unknown with endless opportunities and a test to my character had me burning the chair I was on the edge of with enthusiasm! I brought a plan to go before the Lord and He liked the idea.
Another thing that spurred me to leave was because I was bored. Before I left I had nice cars, lived in very nice homes, ate excellent food everyday, and I had freedom. Though I am very grateful for these things, there had to be more than living a nice life. At home I thought, “How could the Christian life be so boring? That isn’t what I see in the Bible and in the countless stories from Christians that I talked to and read about. I want to really serve with all I got in me!” I partly made my decision on that thought alone. Yet even today I catch myself also on this thought, “How did I loose perspective of why I came as I am living a dream? How could I be so unloving to live for myself while on such a trip!? How could I live like that after someone died for me?!” I’m so torn.
I was in Vietnam last month. At the beginning of the month I was so excited to see what it looked like, what the food was like, and what the culture was like! We landed in Ho Chi Minh City at night and was told in the morning we had a 24 hour bus ride the next day to Da Nang City. When my team and I arrived our host took us out to a 5 star hotel with a restaurant on the 17th floor. We enjoyed a fancy 6 course meal while looking over the entire city and the gorgeous beach with mountains off to the side. We even had coffee and ice cream and drank fresh coconut milk straight out of the coconut! It was a phenomenal way to start the month. Secretly, I was living for those kinds of moments. And secretly, those moments started to began to no longer matter. I was so confused.
God got my attention through my deprived joy in those moments. I love how gentle He is to show me that a change needs to happen.
The American dream and the adventure of a life time. Two things I’ve lived and am living. Two things it seems nearly everyone I talk to, from Africa to Asia back to America, desires and strives for. Even me. But I am done.
I’m done living for the adventure and done living to fulfill the American dream. I live for Christ for He payed far too high of price for me to not. I dance when I see people get saved! I celebrate when people give their all to things they love! I rejoice when people succeed and win over sin! I weep when things become idols in lives.
Romans 1:25
“…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Use the American dream for His glory and adventures to bring Him praise. I implore you with all of my heart DO NOT live your life for anything or anyone but Jesus. Jesus Himself said in John 10:10 that He came to give life in more abundance. I dare you to dream! I dare you to pursue them with all you have! But for the love of God, live for and obey Him who gives you those dreams!
Are you bored? Live for Christ. Best decision you’ll ever make.
John 10:10
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Btw, Merry Christmas!
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