First of all, to all my supporters, readers, friends, and family, I’m sorry for being silent on the blog for a while! We were in an area last month that was not safe for us as believers and for the security of our contacts and ourselves, we did our best to stay off the internet. Anything I post in regards to the last month will have all changed names, places, and details will be ommitted. I hope ya’ll understand! Now…on to the new post!
There’s something really irritating about hearing the words “stay present” on the race. It’s another phrase that I’m tempted to revoke from my vocabulary, along with all the other christianese words and phrases that become common [overused] jargon on the race.
But the kicker is that it actually means something.
There is something to it that the Lord is revealing each day.
I’m in the midst of month 9 and I feel ready to go home. I’m ready for a period of respite before the next season He has for me. I’m ready to cuddle my dogs, confident in knowing I won’t get a disease from them. I’m pretty ready to lay in my moms lap while she strokes my hair and I rest [and cry a lot]. I’m absolutely ready for some quiet, refilling fishing dates with my dad where he pours the beautiful heart of Jesus that he carries, right into mine. I’m ready for “The Office” marathons with my best friend movie dates with my brother, late night belly laughs that keep us up til the morning, real pizza, road trips, and familiarity.
But He’s not ready for those yet. He is ready for me to see a magnificent waterfall, crawl through caves and drink in the sweet mist of his majestic creation. He is ready for me to go undercover to a few hill tribes in the mountains of Southeast Asia to love people and prepare the way for his kingdom. He is ready for me to experience dreams, persecution, and 3 more countries full of only things He knows. He is writing a story of a girl who I will love for the rest of my life, who has been caught in sex slavery and prostitution. He is banking on me being all in when my teammate asks me how I am healing from heart aches that still cripple me some days. He is hoping that I give all that I am in transparency as I dive into new friendships and learn what it really means to be a friend. He wants me to bring old memories and soul ties to him as he intends to fully break and heal areas of my heart that I tend to hide away.
There. Is. More.
And to be honest, the only way I can live those things is by being present. The more I think about home, the more I allow myself to run away with thoughts of people not in front of me, the more I day dream about the next season of my life and where Jesus is guiding me to, the more I’m drawn away from his great plan with eternal purposes. Because today is the only one promised. This moment. I’m drawn from eternal treasures if I live any other moment than the one gifted right now.
A time will come when the other stuff happens but even as I type, the eternal significance outweighs and reinvigorates me to be present for the things of today.
Life is not about tomorrow. Its about today. This moment. This very second. It’s about waking up and asking, what do you have for me today Jesus? And that’s it. Nothing about tomorrow or next month…it’s not promised. But you are promised this moment. Are you going to stay present in it and live it for eternal significance?
-Rachel
