Travel days are full of the hurry up and wait mentality. When traveling in a large group you have to be at the airport twice as early, need twice as much time walking anywhere and twice as much room for our human-sized packs. There is more of a chance of a passport issue, visa mix-up or booking mistake. Our logistic coordinators are awesome in making these days go as smoothly as possible (shout out to Taylor W. and Will!) which also gives me the excuse to lay low and be the follower. Being stuck on three different plane rides was good practice for just sitting these last travel days. It gave me time to think, read, reflect and forced me to rest.
I have noticed I need to apply this concept of sitting into my spiritual life. I desire to press on, learn and dig into new lessons, and chase after God with all my heart and efforts. However, He is teaching me, yet again, to just be engulfed in His love. I have realized as much as He loves my passionate spirit, He also wants me to experience His love and live in the present with all the blessings around me.
Abiding: lasting a long time; Synonyms: enduring, long-lasting, continuing, remaining, eternal, lifelong (dictionary.com)
This definition revealed how I need to continuously stay in His love and the importance of my journey, not the end result. Slowing down is hard but I have already reaped so many benefits and have learned more in this time than I would have if I didn’t slow my roll. This waiting is teaching me how I have to fill myself up with His love and then have my ministry be powered by the overflow of my cup. When I run around with all the tasks to check off the to-do list the water splashes out and I miss God as He tries to fill it up again; I don’t give Him time to pour into my cup (Uninvited, Lysa TerKeurst). Pride, fear, jealousy, comparison comes when I am performing with an empty cup. I am left unsatisfied and empty. When I get full from His love, I can be joyful, have grace, serve with a willing heart and have a compassionate spirit. Life just flows better when the source is from the overflow of God’s love.
Cultural Fact: Here is to covering the knees! Women showing their knees here in Africa is like cleavage in the United States. I may have to get a vibrant skirt made with colorful African fabric. Also, the left hand is considered unclean-don’t use it for greeting, eating, pointing, etc.
