If you know me even just a little bit, you know that I LOVE
popcorn. It’s definitely my guilty pleasure. Some of my friends keep popcorn in
their pantries just because they know I’m coming over and chances are that’ll
be the one thing I ask for by the end of the night. It doesn’t matter how I get
it…popped in the microwave, popped on the stove, popped over a campfire…homemade,
plain, doused in butter, or salt, or both…I’ll take it!
So when I was talking to one of my friends the other night,
we were discussing where God had us and if He had spoken anything specific to
us about this New Year. He shared what was on his heart and proceeded to ask me
what I was getting from God in terms of the subject at hand.
NEW.
I’m not sure how profound it is…but it’s something. Usually,
God speaks something pretty specific to me at the beginning of each year. Maybe
it’s specific and I just don’t realize it. Who knows…
I explained to my friend that this last year was like a
massive amount of organized chaos. Between life on the race, life at home,
family, friends, finances, health, etc…it’s simply been chaotic. But unlike an
intense “MY LIFE IS FALLING APART!!” kind of chaos…more like kernels in a
popcorn maker kind of chaos.
As I was talking to my friend, I got this vision of a
popcorn maker. My roommate got one for Christmas and we had just made some the
night before, so it was fresh on my mind. It’s the type of popcorn maker that
looks like a bubble on top of a round pan-looking bottom. When you turn it on,
a little arm spins around the bottom and stirs the kernels as the popcorn maker
heats up. It starts out very controlled…almost soothing. You know that chaos is
coming, but you know that in the end, the outcome is going to be sooo worth it!
And you can’t wait to watch it happen.
So, last year, my life was similar to being in the middle of
a popcorn maker.
It started out controlled, but I knew that things were
heating up. And just like when popcorn kernels start to heat up, things in my life
started to explode. I quickly found out that my parents had separated…I was
threatened with malaria and kidney failure…life in Africa and India were super
dry and just blah…relationships back here in America were tested…the shock of
having much less community here in the states than I had anticipated set in.
The fire under me got hot! At times, it seemed way too hot
for comfort and I struggled with how exactly to deal with it. The funny thing
is that it always seemed to have some sort of weird hint of organization or
control to it…like that big bubble that contains the popcorn as it heats up. It
allows for popcorn to be produced and it keeps the popping going for a longer
period of time. It produces more “fruit” and it holds everything together
despite the tiny explosions going on within the popcorn maker. I think that’s
been God this year…
But through the fire and the heat, life began to slow down.
If you’ve ever listened to popcorn pop, it starts out slow and then before you
know it, it’s like an explosion is never ending in your popcorn maker, your pot
on the stove or in your microwave. And then as soon as you hear 5 seconds
between pops, you have to take it off the burner quickly as to not let it burn.
This was how my year ended. I feel like my life went through
a popcorn maker and I’m just sitting here, now, ready to enjoy the nice little
snack that the heat and the kernels created. It’s crazy that you can add some
heat to something so small, crunchy and NOT satisfying and come out with
something so delectable, appetizing and enjoyable!
So, as far as this new year goes, I feel like I’m at a
perfect place to just enjoy life…enjoy what has happened in the past, what’s
happening now and what the future is bringing.
“It’s gonna be wild, it’s gonna be great, it’s gonna be full
of Me…”
It’s gonna be
NEW!
