Pre-blog note:
This originated as a letter to Aunty Cynthia, but God clearly had other plans.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Hawaiian culture -- the use of "Aunty"
is a sign of respect for elders. It is also a notion toward 'ohana, related by
blood or not, we are all family.
Enjoy.
Internet world, meet Aunty Cynthia.
Aunty Cynthia:
My strongest financial root of faith for The World Race 2018.
It’s crazy to think that.
To see that typed out.
One root, that continuously waters my vision.
The one root that reminds me that God chose this for me, and that I am choosing God.
The one person that God brought about in my life through other blessings in His network.
Yes, His (Gods) network.
Let’s dissect this.
We all speak about “networking” – “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” type of situations that come about when getting into colleges, finding jobs, or even finding the best ice-cream shop across the country. The truth to this statement is undeniable, but there are layers within it.
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
Your parents may know the CEO of the job you are applying to. Your second-cousins-boyfriends-sister may work at Disneyland and be able to get you free churros. You may know the head chef to that restaurant that you always get the hook-ups to. We could go on and on about the connections and networks we have created by simply having relationships with others – but guess what?
There is a creator that knows our hearts, bringing our connections about, which then flourishes them into what He intends them to be.
Yes, what He intends them to be.
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“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
I know the all creator of this universe and creator of every being that has been, is being, and will come about.
How do I know him?
I know His son, Jesus, who God sent to die on the cross for my sins so that I may be free from anything that tries to hinder my walk with the Lord. I know a compassionate, loving God who blesses me when undeserved, and loves me with a love that is unattainable to understand through a human-to-human connection, or even a human-to-dog connection (can’t forget those).
Honestly and truly, I could create a list and spit facts on how I know my main man Jesus, therefore knowing our God– but I won’t. I was writing about Aunty Cynthia, and if you’ve gotten this far deep in this rant, we are on our way to circling right back to her. Stick with me for a wee-bit longer.
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“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
Our God is so purposeful with every relationship, every conversation, ever placement of where we are, even down to the every moments to bring about His divine connection.
As strong, intelligent, and as loving as we are, we can only handle “so much”. You may have also heard this phrase– “we’re only human” – which again, carries so much truth to it as well. Humans desire other humans in times of desperation, times of joy, and everything in-between. Certain experiences are better together (shout out to Jack Johnson). But here’s the thing—another human cannot be the end-all for your end-all.
Here’s where I’m going with this:
Your [insert human relationship] can’t be at your every beckoning call when [insert pronouns] have [insert all of their daily worries, excitements, conversations, tasks, stresses, responsibilities, eating times, TV series they have to catch up on, fitness goals, dreams, etc.]. You get the point.
We all have our own agendas. And as much as we want someone to help us instantly or be there for someone in return, there is a love so pure just for these situations,
and that is (Here it is! The BIG punchline!) our very own crafted and hand made relationship with God.
We need God.
We need to know Him.
We need the orchestrator of all of our personal connections.
God is the one who desires and pursues a personal connection with us, even more than our want to depend on others.
So yes, we all have relationships that we cherish and love. Our God is so personal that He crafts relationships with his loving thumbprint (What a hoot!).
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So – How does this whole rant connect back to Aunty Cynthia?
How is it that someone who has never met me, nor has ever seen me, is my one financial root that has committed to me every month this year for The World Race?
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:26-27.
If it’s one thing I know — I know our God is a provider. If He provides for the birds of the air, then why is it even a split thought that He would forget to provide for me?
Aunty Cynthia and I both know that God brought us together– How this divine connection was created– and we can both praise him for the different ways He allows us to bless each others lives.
Aunty Cynthia is someone who has heard my story, and believes in God’s calling for me.
Someone who believes in God’s purpose for me in this season of life.
Someone who believes in the love that is deserved in these countries.
Someone who has experienced God’s provision, even when unable to comprehend.
I can tell you– although not physically meeting; I have truly met Aunty Cynthia because she is a network, a connection, and now a relationship, brought by God and through God.
The all creator, all orchestrator of each one of our personal relationships.
I have met her sacrificial, surrendering, empowering spirit that has blindly stepped out in faith to commit to my journey of The World Race in August in 2018. Further, I have met her joyful heart toward discipleship for the importance of God’s kingdom.
Aunty Cynthia,
The One root, that continuously waters my vision.
The one root that reminds me that God chose this for me, and that I am choosing God.
The one root that reminds me of the one I am rooted to when reaching for a miracle.
Even in the case that God removes Aunty Cynthia from my financial blessings for The World Race, I know who I am rooted to, and that my roots are too deep to be stricken by the wind.
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I encourage you to keep an eye of awareness of who walks in and out of your days, because our God is purposeful in His placement and His perfect timing.
When you lean into Him, He will take your connections farther than you can even comprehend.
Keep your eyes fixed on our provider.
If you would like to get rooted in my journey to creating opportunities for others to know Gods love, I would be more than joyful to have pieces of your heart left in Haiti, Dominican republic, South Africa, Botswana, India, Nepal, Albania, Romania, Zambia, Bulgaria, and Serbia, as well as God’s kingdom – for eternity.
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Thank you Aunty Cynthia, for being a blessing farther than you may ever know.
“It’s not what you know, It’s who you know.”
All glory to God.
Love, Pel
