So when it comes to an actual Honeymoon, yeah, I have no experience 🙂 But I will try my best to imagine how it would be to get to experience life new again with someone by your side.
Your best friend. Everything takes on a different feel. Everything feels as if this was the first time you ever experienced it. From the simplest of daily tasks to the biggest of adventures. It could be going bowling or it could be sitting on the couch watching a movie. Going to Australia or going to the grocery store. There is something special about doing it with the person you have committed your life to. There is something truly exciting and beautiful about this. Something pure yet also kinda silly. Crazy yet also real and adventurous. There is a feeling that nothing can go wrong, and if it does, then we have each other and we can get through anything. Nothing is going to stand in our way. We are in love! (By the way, married people, if I am off, please let me know. I am totally postulating all of this). But this is a feeling.
Also when a person becomes a believer for the first time there is an excitement, a buzz of energy. They have been spiritually born again and life is totally different. Everything they do is new. Everything is seen with new lenses. There is a new outlook on life. For a while this feeling of excitement can get them through many situations.
I am feeling this way about this adventure that is ahead of me. I am in what people call the Honeymoon phase of cross-cultural missions. It is hard for me not to get super excited about what is coming. All the people I am going to meet. All the places I will get to see. How awesome it will be to serve God despite my abilities. Despite the language barrier. Despite my comforts. Right now I am in the giddy phase. Things are very idealistic. But this too will pass. Reality of what I am doing and the obstacles of life that pop up may disorient and distract me from my purpose. I may get overwhelmed with all that has to happen before I leave. I may get depressed over the friends and family I am “leaving” behind. Over all the holidays, birthdays, weddings, and job opportunities that I am sacrificing to commit these 11 months of my life. But I want to truly enjoy this phase of excitement and joy. I want to be in awe of what God is doing and what He can do. This feeling will come and go, but pushing through situations despite having this feeling will deepen my love and commitment I made.
I think that it is important to not try and minimize or under-value this phase, simply because it is a feeling; to skip over just because of how silly or seemingly “irrational” it may look. I think we ought to take it as it is. To enjoy it with the perspective that it is a phase of something bigger and more beautiful. We are just breaking the surface of what it looks like to serve God with our whole lives. Let us not be afraid of what we are giving up because nothing compares to the satisfaction of being in the will of God. Loving Him and loving others.
I am reminded of how growing up we were told to be a kid. To do things as a kid. Not to try and be an adult too soon. To enjoy childhood with all of its craziness and even immaturity because we won’t be able to go back in time later on in life. To enjoy the moment for all that it has to offer. I think there is some truth in that. There are also some areas for concern with that thinking but right now I want to look at the good parts. Let us enjoy the fullness of what is right in front of us. Not be worried or caught up in how it will all unfold or how we are going to make it all happen, because we are not told those things. We are told to simply walk. God is in control of all the other things. Let us eat and enjoy and be completely satisfied with our daily bread. Knowing that God will provide for tomorrow’s bread tomorrow!
I recently watched Inside Out. It was cute. I really enjoyed the idea of walking through emotions rather than trying to avoid or push away the ones that we don’t like, or the ones that we don’t want others to see in us. This is true in life. When something happens in our lives we ought to experience the full range of emotions that go alongside it, not skip over them. For by going through them we are able to work through the events and situations in a healthy manner. This develops us and allows us to process and handle further events whenever they may arise. So there is great benefit to experiencing the full range of emotions, especially the ones we don’t like.
I don’t want to grow up too fast. I want to enjoy my Honeymoon. I want to enjoy the fullness that God offers us. Not try and jump to the end, because I am not there yet. I am right here.
