I’ve spent just about 11 months learning what it means to live in community. Spoiler alert: It’s not easy. It requires sacrifice and selflessness. Serving others first, listening more and talking about yourself less. It means loving the one beside you is more about sitting in the silence with them, than it is about sending a text with all the right words.
I’ve had deep, meaningful relationship with my sisters and brothers. I’ve been encouraged, accepted and called higher. I’ve felt love and joy and I’ve laughed more than I thought was possible.
I look back and realize I’ve lost a few moments; some opportunities I’ll never have again. I’ve cared way too much about posting pictures, writing clever captions and staying in touch with my family at home while neglecting the one in front of me. I’ve wasted minutes, hours, days just scrolling through a digital world when I could’ve been in the real one.
Something has to change.
I’m no longer interested in an artificial acceptance that comes from seeing little red notifications. Without even realizing it, I’ve found my worth in likes and followers. I’ve glorified the number of friends on Facebook, knowing that it’s impossible to love all 800 of them well. And I’m sure as hell not doing anyone a favor by comparing and measuring myself up to their clothes, vacations, experiences or relationships.
I’m much more interested in real, genuine, intentional friendships that take the time to make a phone call or make room in their day to sit across the table from you. And even if no one else is, I need to be this kind of friend… Jesus was.
So in an effort to preserve this new standard of community and relationship that Jesus has set, I’m signing off. I’m saying goodbye to Facebook and Instagram indefinitely and choosing to be intentional in the lives of those He has placed before me, both here and when I return home. I’m unplugging, pushing reset and challenging myself to step out of what has become so comfortable in order to pursue what’s authentic.
I’m choosing to walk in belief of what I told the girls at the African orphanage, the Indian school, the Cambodian church… that their worth is rooted in Jesus alone.
That He calls them beautiful and precious and accepted… even if the rest of the world thinks otherwise.
I have to say goodbye to my world race all too soon, so I want to honor the truths and lessons Jesus has spent 11 months teaching me. I want to end this journey and begin the next completely present. Loving people wholly and actively, with my full attention, time & heart.
“Almost anything will work again if you unplug
it for a few minutes, including you.” Anne Lamott.
I’ll be home in 3 weeks, and I can’t wait to share what Jesus did in my life this year. Until then, send me a message or an email and know that while I’m not posting photos, I’m doing what I can to love people the way Jesus would.
