So there is this important lesson that I’ve had to learn multiple times on the race called “being present in my own life.” You can also call it “not focusing on the future” or as I prefer to call it “quit stressing about what in the world you’re going to do with your life after the world race is over.” Take your pick, all apply the same. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to truly grasp a concept if the wording isn’t just right or in ways that I can understand. I think Kacie, on my team, put it in the best visual for me back in Ecuador (month 1). She told me to enjoy the ride.
I’m a super visual person. In fact, I’d probably jump at the idea of going back to school if all teachers taught with visual representations, explained things with awesome descriptions that cause your mind to create pictures and use imagination or they simply drew on the white board. It’s just how things stick best in my mind.
So when Kacie explained this concept to me, it made so much sense, and I knew I’d never forget. (Whether or not I applied it to my life right away is another thing)…
Kacie told me to picture a little kid in the passenger seat of a car that the dad is driving. The kid keeps bugging the dad “are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” The kid doesn’t even know where there is, but boy does he/she want to get there! The dad lovingly just turns to the kid and says “don’t worry, we’ll get there, but don’t miss this. Look around, enjoy the ride.” And the kid looks out the window and it’s the most beautiful view. There are rivers and mountains and animals and grassy field and flowers. And to think, that kid almost missed it all.
Source: Uploaded by user via Melanie on Pinterest
Get it? The dad is God. And I’m the annoying kid that is almost missing out on all that life has today in present time. Kacie told me this in Ecuador. That was month 1 of the world race and I was already so eager to know the next step in my life. Not that I’m a planner, by any means, I am just curious as a cat. And I’m also, a worry wart. I knew that I was on the first step of life God wanted me to take, but I was wanting to see the next stop. I took her analogy to heart, but locked it away and didn’t apply it to my mind very well. Clearly.
I don’t know what it is about this month. (Month 5) I have been motivated in new ways to figure out this whole "life" thing. I’m not joking, I’ve gone all out this month, taking full advantage of the internet we have. I’ve looked up schools all around the Midwest, apartments that allow cats, vehicles I could hopefully somehow purchase, bicycle prices so I could be ready for not being able to buy a car, churches I could attend in each different city I’ve considered, ministries I could potentially get involved in, gyms in each neighborhood (I now work out. Sort of), and brainstorming possible jobs I could apply for. Yeah, my mind has been going a trillion miles per hour.
It’s ridiculous really. First off, there isn’t anything I could do 6 and a half months in advance. And second, I am missing the ride. I’m missing the present. I made a list (it’s embarrassingly long) of all the things I should look at when the time is right. The tiny things that I don’t need to give any attention to right now. It’s a list that I am not going to look at until God tells me to, which is for sure not going to be before Asia. Most likely month 10 or 11 of the race.
So I decided to close my eyes and picture the image Kacie told me. I decided not to be a braty kid bugging my cool dad about where in the world we were heading. I am trusting Him and letting Him drive me. I am thankful for Him taking me on this beautiful journey called LIFE and I am enjoying the ride.
