Slow down, you're moving to fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobblestones.
Look for fun and feelin' groovy.
I remember this song playing throughout our house, while my dad would clean the basement and do other manly things around the house.
Life was a lot simpler than.
Of course it was, I was eight.
As I get older, I catch myself going through the motions.
When I was working in a corporate job, it was so easy to wake up, work, go home, eat dinner, watch The Bachelor or Revenge, go to sleep and then do it again.
I would wait for the weekend. The weekend would come and go and the cycle would start again.
Work Monday through Friday… Wait for the weekend.
Sound familiar?
Here I am on the World Race. I've been to eight countries so far and will visit four more before my Race is over.
Everyday, I experience something new.
India. China. South Africa. Romania. Philippines. Swaziland. Ukraine.
Russian, Tagalog, Afrikans, Zulu, Hindi, Chinese.
Orphans. Prostitutes. The Poor. The Hungry.
Great Wall. Taj Mahal. Indian Ocean. Safari. Scuba Diving.
Traveling on the trains you see in Slumdog Millionaire.
Tents. Sleeping bags. Hostels. One room apartments.
And of course the food…
Nothing is the same.
There is no repetition in this lifestyle called the World Race.
The Race started out new and exciting. I spent three months of my life in Africa. AFRICA! That’s pretty amazing! But the newness wears off. A travel day means catching up on sleep, instead of a gateway into a new culture.
A new country equals one month closer to home, my bed, movies with my little sister Michelle, my chocolate lab Sadie… America!
Who wouldn't want to cuddle with this beautiful, brown baby?
So, why did I think the World Race would cure the boringness I call life? Why do I always think the grass is greener on the other side? Why do I compare my life to others? Why is the worth of my life based on other's perception?
A couple of weeks ago, I started reading this book called 1000 Gifts by Ann Voscamp…
A dare to live fully in exactly what we're doing.
A dare to pause in life's little and big moments.
A dare to be thankful in whatever life throws your way.
A dare to rejoice and praise God in every moment.
A dare to find joy in each day.
A dare to live in the moment.
A dare to slow down.
I love a good dare. Bring it on.
I'm going to live in the moment and be thankful in the big and the LITTLE.
My eyes are wide open more than ever to what the Lord is doing around me.
He's moving. He's teaching.
And I'm dependent on Him for everything.
I'm trusting and full of hope with His will for the next three months. His plan for my life.
- Healthy food after a month of Romanian potatoes and bread… Cheers to granola, bananas, and yogurt!
- Good conversation and love during Feministry Month with Team’s Yebo and Thriven in Yalta, Ukraine
- For being my leader. For showing me and giving me direction in everything. For your good gifts. For contantly showing me your love.
- Your peace. That in all the busyness, I can come before you, worship and rest in your presence.
- Russian voices in the kitchen over coffee.
- My strong, confident, beautiful, unwavering Mom… How you’ve given me Your eyes to see her
- Your presence
- I can't list this one… Not appropraite for a blog.
- Being able to wear my boots in confidence that I didn’t step in poop or pee along the way. (This would make sense after spending a month in India and China).
- Hot showers
- Full size, down pillows
- My little Honda Civic
- Hard falls & the good laughs that come along with them
- Clear, dark, starry filled night (Odessa, Ukraine)
- New words … ruddy
You can check out the book, 1000 Gifts by going to aholyexperience.com!
