Let me set the stage for you:
To celebrate Melissa’s 26th birthday, my team, along with our wonderful host and tour guide, Barry and his daughter, Deborah, traveled to the island of Thasos in northern Greece.
[P.S. Thank you to Melissa’s mom, Karen and dad, Terry, for your thoughtfulness and generosity in helping make the unforgettable weekend trip to Greece possible!]
After eating a wonderful breakfast in bed, we went out to spend our morning on the beach.
We splashed around in the chilly salt water, looked in awe at the gorgeous mountain views, smiled and laughed until our faces hurt, and squealed “WE’RE IN GREECE” probably 43 times.
We went back on shore to relax on the beach chairs and dry off.
As I laid there, I opened my book and started to read where I left off.
Chapter Three: First Steps Towards Knowing Yourself
[WOW! I highly recommend reading The Gift of Being Yourself by David Benner]
It got me thinking, who am I really?
I’ve had to introduce myself countless times on this trip so far. The basic run down goes like this: I’m Lynna. I’m 27. Before coming on the World Race, I worked as a property manager in Oklahoma City for 4 years. I left everything behind in search of something more. I’m excited to travel the world and meet new people.
All those things are true, but do they capture who I truly am?
So often we use our vocational designations, accomplishments, past or future projects, people we know, and places we’ve been or lived to define who we are.
And then I read this:
“Whether we realize it or not, our being is grounded in God’s love. The generative love of God was our origin. The embracing love of God sustains our existence. The inextinguishable love of God is the only hope for our fulfillment. Love is our identity and our calling, for we are children of Love. Created from love, of love, and for love, our existence makes no sense apart from Divine Love.”
His love is my true identity.
“Genuine self-knowledge begins by looking at God and noticing how God is looking at us. Grounding our knowing of our self in God’s knowing of us anchors us in reality.”
I knew this was a moment a wanted to remember for the rest of my life.
I asked Melissa to snap a quick picture of me.
All I could think about was how great the Lord’s love is for me.
It’s captivating, deep, persistent, intense, passionate, unconditional, unlimited and unimaginably extravagant.
That’s who I am.
I am a daughter of the king, who is
valuable,
capable,
and whether or not I always feel it,
I know that I am deeply loved by the Lord.
