I went camping this weekend, in Alba Julio Romania. Now I use the term camping very loosely. Before leaving for our trip up in the mountains we heard bring your tents, there will be no showers, and dress warm. When we got there though our contact’s parents, who, along with their NIEGHBORS offered their homes to us. Literally three of us girls slept in basically an entire home to ourselves. So camping was with warm beds, hot showers, and cable, falling asleep to the background noise of Romania’s Got Talent. God is Good.
Here’s a little over view of the week, Rock climbing, hiking, touring an old roman fort and spending the day in a ridiculously beautiful 2,000-year-old city, it’s crazy to think that NOTHING in America is even close to that old. It was an amazing much needed break, and time of rest.
There was a store up there that was basically just like Wal-Mart, it carried mainly all the same things, with lots of options. Considering most grocery stores we have been to have slim pickings this was one of those moments where we all felt like we were back in the US of A.
Going to the back of the store, by myself (which keep in mind is a big deal and rarely happens) to get some cheese at the deli counter I had somewhat of a realization, well more of a time of reflection. Pretty soon, In a little over a month I will be back home, back where I started in probably a store that looks just like this one, we’ll say Target, and what will be different? How will I be different? I have had 10 months so far of learning all about how much God loves, seeing what it means to love others and really struggling through that at times, while the whole time God has been pursuing my heart to led me closer and closer to him. And not to mention 10 months of my eyes being open to things. What will it look like to be affected and changed by these things? Poverty, loneliness, human slavery?
Not to alienate and turn away from other things because of this, or start hating everything opposite of it, but to just be affected in my everyday life for good because of what I now know to be true. True about myself, God, and people. If I were to ask myself one question to reflect on with all of this it would be, how am I going to actively love people in every situation from now on?
We talked about this the other night and some of my team’s answers really humbled me and I think they deserve to be shared.
How about not just giving someone in need food, but having him or her eat with you.
Being a friend to the people that no one else cares about
Walking in the truth of who you are, because that will affect other people way more then walking in any insecurities or fears.
Every time you go to the store to buy a block of cheese, buying another one to give away.
Being present with people
Being aware
I don’t know these were just some ideas, and it’s going to look different in every situation probably. But walking in that store by myself I know I felt just the same as I always have, just the same as before 10 months ago. I wasn’t thinking about anything or anyone else, just by myself going to get cheese. And that was enough to cause me to think about how I want my everyday life, and moments to be.
How will you actively love people? God’s not telling you to do anything else but love people, not change them or judge them or argue with them or feel sorry for them, just to love them.
How is your life different just because God loves you?
