The gift of genuine friendship is a gift that never stops giving. Harper Whaley, a girl I went to Swaziland with last summer, is a genuine friend. Her laughter gives life in itself! For my birthday last year, she gifted me an assortment of items. One of which was a journal. An empty journal, waiting for a journey to fill it. To be honest, I hadn’t filled it with anything until the Lord told me to take it on the race with me. I already had a few journals packed, but I figured if the Lord wanted me to take it then hey, what’s one more journal?
It hit me at World Race Launch what the Lord wanted the journey of this journal to look like. I wrote, “Savoring the Subtleties” on the front of the journal.
Filling the pages are the little moments and pieces of life that I didn’t expect to adore, but just happen to be some of my favorites. I used to go to writing in this when I was upset and needed reminders of how beautiful this life is. Though I still do this, hard times aren’t the only times when we need encouragement. When I am joyful, the Lord brings these little moments to mind that I love so dearly. A 9-month mission trip sounds like one giant event. 9 months of one goal: being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. While this may be the ultimate goal in the long run, there are so many subtle moments in between the first and final month.
An exchange of laughter with the woman selling empanadas on the street corner.
Praying for the shoe store owner after having a 20-minute conversation about Disney World.
Introducing smores to your newfound Chilean friends by making them with the gas stove.
Decorating the Christmas tree with your host mom who doesn’t speak any English.
I pray as I smile at the person on the street with the hard frown, as that may be the only smile given to them today. I pray as I see their tense features turn into an unexpected smile. I pray as I see the light in their eyes begin to glow.
Each moment is an opportunity to give the undeniable love of the Father. It may be subtle and short, but seeking it out is worth it. I’m learning that these 9 months are full of these moments. Living day by day is too much now. Living moment by moments is the way I want to live; subtlety to subtlety.
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Here are some photos of my journal~ the cover and some of the pages.
Here’s what I’ve been listening to…
“Your Love is Alive” by Housefires
“Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap
“Hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells
