You don’t have to know me well to know that I love hot air balloons.
And if you do know me well, there’s a good chance that, at some point, you have sent me a picture of a hot air balloon that you saw, given me a hot air balloon themed card or gift, tagged me in a hot air balloon post, or, if you were a part of the awesome freshmen orientation group I led in 2014, you sent me on a hot air balloon ride after finding out that riding in a hot air balloon was on my bucket list. (Fun fact: One of the girls from that same freshmen orientation group is currently on the World Race!)
Hot air balloons have become my thing.
My family knows it. My friends know it. My students know it.
I even went to the point of getting a hot air balloon tattoo.
But why do I like hot air balloons so much?
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When I was a kid, I would occasionally see hot air balloons floating among the clouds near my grandparents’ farm.
As they went drifting by, their bold colors mingling with blue skies, I stood in admiration.
Fast forward fifteen years.
In college, I attended a local hot air balloon festival. As dawn broke, I watched the balloons launch and ascend. Just as I was when I was a child, I was mesmerized by their beauty, but this time I felt captivated by something greater than their appearance.
From that point on, hot air balloons held a much more symbolic meaning in my life for several reasons:
1. Hot air balloons rise from the fire within.
When the burner in a hot air balloon is ignited, the fire heats up the air, and the balloon will rise because warm air is lighter than the cool air it displaces. Thus, the balloon rises from the fire within.
When I came to understand this, I realized that I want to do that same thing.
I want to rise from the fire that is within me. I want to be fueled by that which is my greatest passion.
For me, that fire is Jesus. I am fueled by His unending love, mercy, and grace.
All that I am is because of Him, and all that I want to be is for Him.
2. Hot air balloons go where the wind takes them.
When a hot air balloon goes up, its trajectory cannot be determined 100% accurately because where it will go is dependent upon the wind.
Again, this sounds like me.
I am a natural adventurer, wanderer, and free spirit. But more than following my own natural tendencies, I want to go where the Holy Spirit leads me.
I never know exactly where I will land, but I know that I want to land where I am led.
3. Hot air balloons are so bright and cheerful looking.
There’s a bit of a thrill in spotting a hot air balloon, and even if only for a fleeting moment, they seem to make people happier.
I want to emit those same cheery feelings toward everyone I meet.
I love hot air balloons.
I love that I get to share Jesus with people because I love hot air balloons (and because people question my tattoo frequently which is awesome).
And now that you know my reasoning for loving them, I hope that you love hot air balloons a little bit more too.
I can’t wait to take my love of hot air balloons and Jesus across the world.
Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Xo,
Jami
