‘We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, We are spiritual beings having a human experience’ – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
In the household I grew up in, I would constantly be urged into action: “DO something, don’t just sit around!” My parents would urge. “Being busy” , “being active”, has been seen as the “right way” to ‘be.’ The world typically defines us by the things we do, the books we read, and the people we surround ourselves with. The WORD defines who we are in Christ which creates a new identity in what we do. Being and doing clearly have a codependency, which I am trying to differentiate. The things we do should form from who we are, not the other way around. My worth lately has been placed upon life accomplishments, and achievements from doing while doing life on missions.
This month has taught me about the value of being rather than the things I do. What this means is that prior to this month MY LIFE was my identity. It was more about what my life looks like on the outside looking in, the things I had, and what was next for my bright future. I could never simply be, or be in the present moment. I was grinding from day to day in the activities to do.
Our host has given us freedom with how we wanted this month to look, a huge blessing in hindsight. I defined my ministry off of the activity we were doing. This month we were given luxuries we had done a majority of the last two months without: hot showers, air conditioning, beds, COFFEE, wifi and western toilets. Yeah..yeah..yeah it’s the little things.
Teaching English to University students occurred 1-2 times a week on our scheduled ministry, baking over 300 + Christmas cookies (Name change: Betsy Crocker,) and moving a 3 story church into storage sums up month 3. This month we had quite a bit of free time. In this free time we were encouraged to engage in the community, and make new friends. A majority of our time was spent in coffee shops forming relationships with local people, and pouring into them by being interruptible (key word being.)
The only way I was able to form these relationships was simple: by being.
By being I was able to release the fear I had from the expectation I placed on myself for what I thought I needed to do to bring kingdom.
I encourage you to find the things you enjoy. Find the things that allow you to truly be yourself. Simply go for a walk, form new relationships, or just read a new book. Find these things, and bring them into your life. Begin to remember what it feels like to simply be again.
Ya’ll I’ve been blown away by the generosity of you all back home. You have helped me raise $375 through my Christmas tree fundraiser, and there’s still plenty of numbers available to fill in the next couple days until we take our trees down Jan 1! ? Hop on this while you can get your end of the year tax write off.. ?I am now working towards my last goal of being FULLY FUNDED by the end of January, and I have about $3,100 until I’m there! God has really been working here, I cannot wait to share stories with you all.?If you would like to hear more about what I am doing or specifics about the World Race and Adventures in Missions let’s have a FaceTime/skype date!? MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Follow me on social media to check out pics of what I am up to. Insta: @b00tsy Snapchat: Gottsac3
