Excitement. It’s one of my favorite emotions.
It’s a race in your heart, a warm feeling of hope and an expectancy of something good. I’m excited for many things: excited to eat dinner tonight, excited to wake up and head to the beach tomorrow, excited to someday start a family, REALLY excited for Jesus to return. Being excited is a good thing, until you live in a way that your excitement for the future robs you from being totally present in the NOW.
The other day while talking to someone about my future plans for the Race I said something that I’m now extremely convicted about: “Yeah, it’s going to be incredible, I’m so excited to leave in September, I wish I could just snap my fingers and go now!” At first glance, it sounds innocent and normal. But it’s not at all, it caused me to actually reevaluate my whole life. As a follower of Christ I can’t believe it even came out of my mouth. God has intrigued me to think, before He called me into this SPECIFIC mission trip, He called me to be a disciple. A missionary EVERY DAY no matter where I am. And if you’re a follower of Christ, you are called to be a disciple too! I realized I was overly excited about doing work for Him with people in foreign countries while I casually overlooked the people here. MY OWN HOME. My community. I dreamt about the day I could hold the baby in Africa and minister to the teenager in Thailand, while I casually walk past hundreds of people who need the Jesus that I know RIGHT HERE.
This conviction of my own spoken words has created a deep revelation I would like to share with all who are listening: In the Kingdom of God, greatness is achieved by being totally surrendered to the NOW. Open to the NOW. And not so much focused on the THEN. If we are so focused on God’s Will for our life one year from now, we arrogantly pass over the infinite opportunities presented in each passing moment. We let our plans for the future become an excuse for the not doing what God is calling us to do in this present moment. For instance, as you’re driving home from work, notice the homeless man on the side of the road. As you checkout at Walmart, notice the weary, elderly woman ringing up your groceries. While you’re walking the dogs notice the neighborhood kids playing outside that get no attention from their parents. At church on Sunday, notice the young man sitting alone.
Every person we come in close proximity with is an opportunity to share a glimpse of Jesus. We are called to be image bearers, and as Christians, sweet Jesus lives IN us. He wants to use us to reach other people that need Him. We are the very instruments He has chosen to dwell in and work through here on earth. Each soul you encounter is a chance to extend a word of encouragement, an act of kindness, or even a simple smile.
So as I prepare for my trip to the Nations in September, I promise not to take these days for granted anymore, but instead to treat them like a Mission Trip. Each day is a lifetime of opportunities. Each increment of 24 hours is a chance to get to know our Maker more and to serve the people that He loves so dearly. The blunt truth is, we don’t know when our last day will be. We also don’t know when Jesus will return. Either could be any second. So make THIS moment count. Be a blessing to a stranger today. Live in the moment, live BOLD.
