Here I am. I’m 25. I’m single. And the biggest adventure of my life is only about 30 days away. I became a Christian in junior high. This mind blowing love rescued me from an emptiness of 13 years. And since then I’ve been on this journey. It’s been filled with twists and turns and plenty of laughter and tears.
Now I find myself here. Sitting at this moment in a comfortable chair in Texas. I’ve got a Bachelor of Science under my belt. A minor degree as well. I’ve got a good job that I look forward to going into everyday. I’ve got the love of my sweet savior. I’ve got great friends and family that encourage and support me. I’ve had a few bandaged up heartaches along the way and times of pain that have helped me to become who I am. But who I am now, who I see in the mirror, is not who I expected to see. Growing up, my ‘life plan’ was formulated at a very young age. I would graduate from High School and go off to college. Of course at college I would meet the man of my dreams and fall in love. I would then graduate and begin a family which included 4 sons and a few dogs.
During my four years of college, my ‘life plan’ began to change. There was a small sliver of my heart that felt for those in the world that were named unworthy, unimportant, and unneeded. This sliver began to grow and it grew dramatically. I would sit in my room and try and think up ways my life could make a difference in others. I would ask God ‘how can a life like mine, be used by you, to make change?’. It became a passion of mine. A day wouldn’t pass without my mind wondering to the nations, to justice issues, to those who had less. I want to change the world! To help the hurting. To meet the needs that were not being met. To find the forgotten. To love the shamed.
When I turned 22, the question began to flood into my life from every angle…“So Brienna, when are you going to get married?” I hardly went a week without being asked this question. My thoughts were flooded with the impression that in order for my life to be whole or useful, that I needed to be married. My desire is to be married and to have the family…but I didn’t feel it was supposed to happen at that moment in my life. And as many young ladies have to do, I had to deal with the question at hand. My singleness has now become a tool rather than a disappointment.
As for the adventure…I can’t begin to explain all the emotions, hopes, expectations, fulfilling dreams this World Race uncovers. I was approached by a pastor with the idea of applying for the Race. I looked over the website, prayed, talked to a few friends and then sent in my application. I received the acceptance call and then was on my way to training in September for 3 weeks. Now I’m about 30 days away. I’m caught in the middle of emotions…leaving so much but looking forward to all that’s ahead. Knowing that God has a call on my life and sitting back in awe as He allows me to follow the desires of my heart. Loosing everyday luxuries, yet realizing it’s not that much of a loss. I’m thinking upon scriptures such as
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whoever loses his life, gains it’…
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If you want to be first, you must be last’…
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He did not come to be served, but to serve’…
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It wasn’t the healthy he came for, but the sick’.
The words of God.
I’m praying they will become even more true in my life in the upcoming year.
When I first found my saviors love, I would fall asleep every night with a specific scripture in my thoughts…and night after night I would repeat it to myself until I drifted off into dreams. The words of this scripture stuck with me throughout high school, into college, and even until this day. They are words that sum up my heart…
“ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. – Isaiah 61”
As I strive to live these words out in the upcoming year…I hope that you’ll join in on the adventures of this mid-20’s single girl…
