Written August 13, 2013
Two summers ago I went to Camelback Mountain Resort water park with some friends. As we were waiting in a long line for a ride a friend suggested doing one of those mediation games.
In this game the person leading it somehow gets your mind calm enough so that all you can focus on is what they're saying. Basically they ask you about different tangible objects "in the desert of your mind" and you describe what they look like. Then at the end the person leading it explains what your answer subconsciously means.
I don't remember much of anything I said but I do remember the horse. The friend leading it asked me about a horse (what it looked like, where it was etc.) and after I finished describing it he asked:
"What do you want to do with the horse?"
My first instinct was to blurt out "Ride it." After all that's what you do with a horse, right? But after a moment I said, "Actually, I just want to be with it. Ride it, walk with it, hold it, talk to it… doesn't matter. I just want to be with it; experience it and experience things with it."
Afterwards as he explained to me what my answers meant, the parallel he made about the horse is the one thing that has stuck with me.
The horse represented my husband and my answer represented what I want most with my husband, to just be with him. Didn't matter what we were doing, I just wanted it to be with him.
Yesterday (August 12) my family went to Camelback Mountain Resort water park and today (August 13) we rode horses. Fitting, right?
As I rode the horse today I was reminded about my answer and realized that even though I'm not married, that's how I feel about my main man and heavenly husband Jesus. I love experiencing Him and I love experiencing things with Him.
We ride through the ups and downs, the twists and turns, the bumps and the bruises of life, together. We experience it all, together. It's not about what I'm doing that makes it so great, but about the One I am sharing these moments with. Someone that is extremely important to me in my life, and will be, for forever and for always.
"The World Race will be the longest year of your life – it will also be the shortest. Embrace every moment and every experience of every day. And start now."
Often I find myself wanting to experience "the big things" like bungee jumping or sky diving or other crazy things. Which are all great, and one day I'll do them. But when I have my mind so focused on "the big things" I miss out on how truly joyful "the little things" are. Riding a horse with my family might not seem like the most exciting thing we could have done on our vacation, but our vacation wasn't about the destination, it was about finding joy in the moments we shared together.
This is how I desire to spend living the rest of my life. Experiencing. Experiencing and sharing things with my heavenly husband each and every day, and with those around me He gives as gifts in my life. Every moment is His and mine together, a blessing and gift from Him personally that He delights in experiencing with me and allowing me to experience with others.
I have 24 days before I leave for 11 months. This next year I will meet new people and experience new things. I need to start embracing each of those and simply enjoy being with those moments. It's not about "What miracle or big way will we see God today."
It's about marveling at the fact God has called me to "Go" among the nations and share His light in these countries I might otherwise not have visited.
It's about marveling at the fact that I said "Yes" to His call despite fearing the things He would ask me to give up and give back over to Him for a year. Maybe longer.
To marvel at the blessing of a child or woman or man who has a story to tell and I have the honor of hearing that story and getting to know them.
To experience the shared moments with them.
And maybe even the opportunity to introduce them to the One who delights in inviting them to join Him at the heavenly feast that awaits us one day when Jesus calls us home.
Life is both the longest thing you'll live through and it is also the shortest. Experience it. Experience every second and every moment of it and treasure it up because each moment and each experience is beautiful.
Don't just want to ride the horse, desire to simply be with it and experience all it has to offer.
Fundraising update
I am doing a fundraiser through Shay Falk's "Stampin' Up!" site! Please check out all the cool things she has by browsing through the Products above the calendar, and if you purchase anything please use the code listed below the calendar!
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/shay/events?id=912370
I am a little over $1,000 away from being 100% funded… please consider supporting me on my adventure and thank you again to those who have already supported, I couldn't have gotten this far without you!
