So, if you haven’t heard yet- I BUNGEE JUMPED OFF THE WORLD’S TALLEST COMMERCIAL BUNGEE BRIDGE. Probably the coolest thing i’ve ever done, and one of the most speechless experiences I’ve been apart of. I actually felt every emotion possible, not to be dramatic, but like I’m serious. it was a moment of complete and utter trust, and courage. Right before I jumped I felt this overwhelming feeling of peace come over me- it was like the Lord had His arms wrapped right around me. It was so weird. When I got to the edge of the cliff, there were two guys waiting for me, that gave me the “3, 2, 1, bungee”, and if you didn’t dive off yourself, they gently pushed you off. It was like I didn’t even think twice about it. I just knew the Lord had me. Once I left that bridge, it was most exhilarating and weird feeling I’ve ever experienced. For a moment, I was thinking to myself, “what in the world am I doing?!”, but it didn’t last long, because this feeling of freedom came over me. I was free falling, and just dangling off this bridge by literally a velcro strap and a string. But, I was SAFE. And protected. It was so cool. And weird, let’s be real. I don’t know how long I was down there, but it felt like forever and not long enough at the same time. When hanging out at the bottom, I was just soaking in His beauty surrounding me, basking in His glorious creation. That I actually cannot believe I get to live and breathe in. I don’t know how many times I said, “thank you Jesus!”. There was mountains surrounding me, a beautiful river below me, and literally the ocean in view. How wonderful is His creation. How wonderful is it that we get to serve and love, AND most importantly, be loved by such a magnificent God.
One of my friends, Anna Scott (shoutout to you!), said to me after she jumped, “it was like I had a spiritual awakening when I jumped. I got to the bottom and had the realization that I was so easily trusting this one rope to hold me up and keep me safe but yet I wasn’t trusting the Father in the same way.” And if that isn’t the realest thing I’ve heard. Literally jumping off a bridge, solely relying on strangers, and this bungee cord. And that’s it. Yet, I can’t rely on the Lord, or trust Him with the same intensity. So, yeah, that was an eye-opener when Anna said that, and made me stop and think. With that, I am learning day by day what it looks like to totally and wholeheartedly trust the Lord, and what it means to surrender daily. Who would have thought jumping off a bungee bridge would lead to this, ha?!
Any-who, life is really great. We’re sitting here at month one debrief, in Pretoria. We’ll be here for 5 days, just getting poured into, as well, as getting the chance to rest. Which is really great.
The Lord’s been teaching me a lot that I’d like to share with you guys:
-vulnerability is GOOD. That I should be confident in sharing my heart, and sharing my story, because its one the Lord gave to me
-freedom is ACCESSIBLE, so easily accessible. Freedom from fear! From anxiety! Whatever else
-fully and wholeheartedly embracing the place I am in, and the place where my heart is
-going off that one, the Lord is patiently waiting for me. He’s holding my hand, walking alongside me at the exact pace I’m going, never rushing me, but with me in my walk and journey, with open arms
-I’m learning what loving others looks like, what it means to love the way Jesus did
-we can’t put a limit on God’s healing process, or the amount of time it is going to take
AND MORE! But, I’ll stop for now. I am still learning to walk each one of those out, and still learning exactly what each one means, but I’m okay with it being a learning journey. i’m excited for it, excited to see how the Lord’s going to move in each one, and how He’ll move in my heart and those around me.
