This year I enjoyed and embraced my time with my family at Thanksgiving more than I have other years. I put down my phone and other distractions and allowed these moments to wash over me. Next year my Thanksgiving will be with a new family, with my team and who knows what it will look like. What kind of food we will be eating, how cold or hot it will be and where we will be sleeping that night. I know that now I embrace these as new and interesting experiences. Mostly because I am choosing to give up my comforts.
There are so many yesterday and daily that do not have that opportunity. Last Sunday at my church we had a man speak who is from Sudan. He commented how funny it was to him that people looked forward to getting to go on a camping trip. He said, be thankful that you get to enjoy it as a vacation. He lives and works in refugee camps in Sudan where people are living in tents and cardboard boxes because they had no choice. They were forced to leave their homes, forced to indefinitely be camping. Our hearts break for those over seas that are hurting.
At the Kansas City Rescue Mission for a few hours every day homeless men have a home. They are given a hot meal, four articles of clothing for free and a safe place to sleep. They get to escape their circumstances for a bit and be cared for. Often these men, not to mention women and children here in America are usually scurried away from businesses and judged for how they became homeless. When did we get to the point that we hold so closely to our money and our comforts that we become unknowingly unwilling to see the needs of others? I say this not to condemn others but as a cultural awareness.
When I tell people about my journey the first thing most people comment on is the comforts that I will not be promised. Which believe me I am aware of and as I am still now enjoying them I can say I know I will miss. But I cannot help but know that my God fills in when I feel discomfort. When I am leery of talking to someone about the gospel, He gives me the words to say. God works in our times of discomfort. Discomfort is defined as a slight pain, or to make someone feel uneasy, anxious or embarrassed. All of which I know I will experience. I am trying to keep my perspective that while I am choosing to have 11 months of discomfort for others they are forced into living in discomfort. Keeping my eyes open to the true needs of others. Oh and Happy late Thanksgiving to everyone!
