I am in some middle days.
It has now been over 3 months since I officially committed to going on the World Race, and the initial excitement has worn off, giving way to to-do lists and “prep stuff” that mostly consists of being organized and powering through logistical tasks, a virtual nightmare for a distractible, unscheduled, ESFP like myself. Mostly on middle days I go to work then pick something from my to-do list and work on it (in theory).
Neither extremely high nor extremely low, my middle days are average, standard, common, ordinary…
… Or are they?
I’m starting to think there might be more to these middle days than I am giving them credit for. Actually, what I’m really saying is, I think there is more to Jesus than I am giving him credit for.
See Jesus never said, “I have come so they may have life, and have it to the full… but only on days when their life seems cool and exciting” (John 10:10 + Julie add-ons).
Jesus was all about the present. Time and time again he lived for the here and now, for what was right in front of him. He preached to the crowds and fed them when they showed up lost and hungry, although his plan had been to get away and rest. He forgave the sins of the woman he happened upon at the well during his quest for some water. He called Matthew out of a life as a tax collector and into a life of discipleship while he was walking down the street.
These sound like things I do… rest, get water, walk past people.
Sometimes when I read about Jesus’ life I focus on the miraculous healings he performed or the powerful teachings he gave. I can miss the fact that Jesus was a human, just like me, and he lived a lot of normal human moments too, just a regular dude.
“Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” Philippians 2:7
What made Jesus’ life so miraculous was not that his everyday life was a wild and crazy ride (although sometimes it was). Jesus’ life was so amazing because he lived it completely in tune with the Father. He had eyes open to see what the Father was doing in every circumstance, mundane or otherwise. He loved and served everyone he came into contact with, missing nothing.
“Jesus gave them this answer: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does’” John 5:19
If normal human days are good enough for Jesus, they are good enough for me.
I don’t need to wait until I leave for the Race to start having abundant life driven by purpose. Actually Jesus died for me so that I can walk in everything he walked in during his time on earth.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will given you” John 15:16
Jesus promises me I can bear fruit any day of my life, because I am a daughter of God and I can follow what I see my Father doing. If I look for him, I can actually see Jesus all over my middle days, using me, blessing me, and loving me.
Although I have not been able to meet and share the gospel with as many new people as I would like,Jesus has given me some pretty amazing times sharing in the gospel with people I already know, who need the truth of salvation just as desperately.
it has afforded me the opportunity to reconnect with some amazing people of the Lord, some of whom I have not spoken with in years, but are now supporting me financially and through prayer. What a blessing.
living at home has allowed me to spend a ton of quality time with my parents, and my brothers when they’re around. This time has become very special to me as my launch date and the reality of leaving for a year draws closer and closer.
walking through it is going to carry me to the next phase. If I can walk through it with eyes open to what God is doing here and now, instead of sprinting through while everything blurs around me, I can arrive at the next phase rested and prepared and closer to God.
The wonderful Jessica Belkot spit some mad truth at training camp, as she encouraged us leading up to launch. She said that whatever is happening and however it’s going, God is writing our stories uniquely for us in the way that is going to draw us closest to His heart. Can I get an amen?!
My middle days are here for a reason. So I am going to choose to see Jesus in every day. I am going to choose joy. I am going to choose to have a heart open to the Lord, and count my blessings.
Well, I’m going to try.
