Guys, I have a problem. Since starting the Race, I have started doing this thing. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s incredibly embarrassing. At first, I started doing it & I could kind of control it. It’d come out randomly and rarely. But now, it’s a problem. Now, I can’t control it. I can’t predict when it’ll happen. It just catches me by surprise. And I can’t stop.
I can’t stop snorting when I laugh.
This was not a problem in my pre-Race life. Sure, I laughed. I have funny friends. I know funny people. But never was this a problem. Now, I read a funny line in a book (I’m reading a lot of possibly unintentionally funny books lately), it catches me by surprise & before I know, I’m laughing and snorting like a pig. I’m pretty sure it started being a problem in Albania. I think I caught something from the pigs we worked around. But even though it can be incredibly embarrassing to be laughing and snorting uncontrollably, I really hope others catch it.
What I realized (probably mid-snort) on the bus from Zambia to Malawi is how much I enjoy life now. I’m not saying I didn’t things about my life before the Race, but I didn’t fully bathe in enjoyment. I just got my toes wet. And I missed out on a lot. I started reading Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist at the end of Zambia. I was hesitant to read it, because I was still kinda caught up in the brilliant ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But at some point, I decided to commit to reading Cold Tangerines & I’m so glad I did. It’s a great book & if you haven’t read it, you definitely should. It’s a celebration of life and lessons learned. And it made me realize that God wants us to enjoy our lives- whatever they are. He wants us to find things to celebrate and be thankful for. It’s good for us.
My favorite part of the book comes towards the end. I am completely paraphrasing here, but it says something about how when God created the world, He said “It is good”. And the author goes on to talk about how she thinks he meant that eating cold tangerines is good. And having good, deep relationships is good. And celebrating the lives of people we’ve lost is good. It is good and we should be afraid or hesitant to enjoy the good things that God has created. It’s a way of worshipping Him. It’s a way of recognizing His goodness.
I used to think that I had to be the responsible one. All. The. Time. And yes, it’s good to be responsible. We’re supposed to be. But we don’t have to be so responsible and so mature that we can’t enjoy the simple pleasures- like laughing until you snort. It’s good for the soul. And good to recognize the things we have to be thankful for. So I’m thankful that I’m finding more balance. I’m thankful that I’m re-learning how to enjoy God’s goodness, His creation, and His people. And yes, I’m even a little thankful for the snorting. I’m thankful for the evidence that my heart is coming alive again. Because this life is too short not to celebrate the good things.
So what do you have to celebrate today?
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Fundraising update: I’m about $2700 short of my final deadline. I’ve been given an extension (I need to raise $1000 by August 1st). Would you consider helping me meet this deadline? I don’t want to miss out one what God’s doing here and in Asia. If you’re not able to give, would you be willing to commit to praying for the people we meet and the ministries we get to partner with?
Thank you guys so much for all your prayers, emails, notes, and encouragement. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it!
