It’s funny the kind of things I’ve learned since being thrown into the world with my passport and a giant pack on my back. I'm beginning to think people expect me to come home from this year super cultured and educated. In the past week alone I’ve gotten multiple emails saying something about a new “global perspective” I supposedly have…
When people talk about me using words such as cultured and global perspective, it makes me feel like I should come home using chopsticks like a pro, telling you all about the best foreign cuisines I tried, and knowing lots about economies and foreign policy.
And if that’s the case, then you’ve absolutely got the wrong girl. It takes me a solid 2 hours to eat a full meal using only chopsticks, BUT if I can use my hands (not my left one of course) to eat that same meal I’ll be done in 10 minutes! I can’t tell you much in the way of foreign cuisine besides rice is rice is rice everywhere you go in the world and I wouldn’t suggest eating the street food in India unless you’re on a world race 3 dollar a day budget and near a bathroom. And all I really know about economy and foreign politics are faces of starving kids in slums and women sold into brothels as government officials turn to look the other way…
I spent the year traveling around and seeing the world and you want to know what I found out here?
GOD.
I found different parts of God in every place I've been.
I found His beauty in the Dominican Republic
and His father heart for me on the beach in Haiti.
I found His voice in Romania,
His Spirit in the back pew of an empty church late one night in Moldova,
and I soaked myself in His freedom in the waters of the Black Sea in Ukraine.
I found His peace in Zimbabwe,
His joy in Swaziland,
and His sovereignty on a farm in South Africa.
I found His power in India,
His redeeming love in Nepal,
and His glory in the orphanage in China…
My life is so different today than it was a year ago, not because of the different places I’ve been, but because of the God I've found out here. And I just wonder if you know Him…
Because the God I know is madly in love with the people He's created and there’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t suffer more or pray longer or serve better to earn more love from God. His love is perfect so I don’t have to be…
And the God I know isn’t repulsed by messy things. I spent SO much time in my life pretending to be someone I’m not. I’m sure I probably told at least 10 different versions of my life story to people…leaving parts out, adding things, and covering things up to keep people from ever really knowing me. I literally didn’t know how to be real with people anymore because all I had ever done was hide the mess. I thought God couldn’t use it. And He definitely couldn’t redeem it. I figured He liked pretend perfect Leah better, but I was SO wrong…
The God I know is alive. And not alive in a really far off chillin on a throne in Heaven kind of way. But in the I saw Him do things just yesterday and I talked with Him this morning kind of way.
The God I know is God over the really big things and the little things too. He knows the names of the babies dying from AIDS in Africa and He knows who will win the election. But He also cares that my back is really hurting and He sees my tears when I have to miss my friends weddings.
And the God I know is really good at being Dad. I used to think that was the most ridiculous name to use for God. But now I love it. I love it because of how it makes me feel. In my mind we do all the things a girl could wish for from her dad. He’s the perfect combination of strong and gentle. His eyes light up when He sees me. He leans in close when I need Him most. He provides and protects me always. He’s proud to be my Dad and He loves me better than anyone. I've learned I really love my Dad…
The God I know is more concerned about orphans and widows than making sure there’s always money in your savings. He might even do something crazy like ask you to give all that money away…
The God I know cares more about your heart than you do. He’ll go to great lengths to break you. It might hurt…it probably will actually. And you might choose to give up, but He never will.
The God I know doesn’t always make sense-
The poor are rich…
the last will be first…
weakness is strength…
I don’t get it sometimes, but I’ve learned I don’t need to.
Because He always comes through, not always with answers…but with peace.
That’s the God I found out here…do you know Him?
