Some days I look into the African sky, and there’s no place else I’d rather be. When I hold a newborn baby it reminds me of the fresh, pure life Jesus gives us everyday. When revival breaks out in a hospital room, and women flood to us for prayer, I’m reminded of what happens when the Holy Spirit enters a room. Sometimes, here on the World Race, I’m assured that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
As much as I love being here, I’d also love to be at home. This month in particular has been very hard for me to see pictures of family parties, fall and Christmas decorations, and all the life going on in Mississippi. I love my life here, but I miss my life there.
At the Blackwell house, we love any excuse to celebrate. Besides just being very close with each other, we will create a party out of anything. Give Daddy some meat to throw on the grill, put Mama and me in the kitchen and we’ll have a feast in no time. You can count on Lesley, my sister, to bring a crew with her so there are always plenty of mouths to feed. We love to cook and we love to eat, but mostly, we just love to celebrate. I won’t go into all the details but when we celebrate, we do it well. We celebrate season changes, big holidays, small holidays, good grades, home runs, scored goals, graduations, and anything else we can come up with.
So, you won’t be surprised to find out that birthdays are a big deal for us. Lesley’s birthday is October 30. Exactly one week later, on November 7, I turn another year older. One week after that is my cousin Paige’s birthday, and exactly one week from that is my dad’s big day. Two days after Daddy’s birthday is Thanksgiving and as soon as that is over, the Christmas season begins.
Last night, laying on the ground… in my tent… breathing in hot, African air… fighting bugs from having more of my flesh and blood… I cried. There, I said it. I don’t like to cry but it happened. I lay there listening to music on shuffle and thinking about all the reasons I’d rather be sitting in front of my parent’s fireplace sipping hot cocoa and watching Home Alone. Not by coincidence, LeeAnn Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” began to play – a song I’ve not heard in years. As soon as she sang “… and if you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance,” I thought immediately about a journal entry I wrote last month.
“I have one year… ONE YEAR, to experience this [the World Race]. To take in all I can – to experience all I can and I do not want to “miss out” on any of it. I want to get everything I can out of every day.”
When I talked to my sister on the phone last night, I told her I wanted to be home and her response was, “Why?” She legitimately could not think of a reason I would rather be home than traveling the world Kingdom building. Her simple question reminded me that if I were home I’d be wishing I were here. And I know that when August 2013 gets here, I will be looking back on the past 12 months and wondering where they went. The point is, Reader, that the grass always looks greener on the other side.
Some of you are walking through life anticipating the next big event. The next big celebration. If you’re engaged, you’re counting down the days until you become one with your love. If you’re pregnant, you probably mark off the calendar day by day. And I know that when December gets here, tons of you will already have out your Santa Claus countdown. We get excited when we think about the future and the things we are looking forward to are great, but most of the time it causes us to overlook the blessings of today.
Be reminded that today (and everyday) God wants to rock your world. He wants to blow your mind by making possible the things you find most impossible. Don’t miss the adventure He’s offering today because you’re too concerned with where you’d rather be in life. Today, right where you are, the grass is greener.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
