You ever have one of those magical moments where you just sit back, taking in everything around you, and wonder… is this really my life? Can it really be this good?
When you’re fully present, you can have those moments every day. I’m in Chiang Mai, Thailand this month. And I lived one of the most magical days of my life!
(Am I being dramatic? Probably. But you decide.)
Our Squad of 42 is all living together this month, and it is SO. MUCH. FUN. These people are amazing. It’s unlike an other community I have lived in, and I know this is what God intended for His body.
Anyway. On the magical morning I’m referring to, we piled into song-tao’s (…kind of like pick up truck limousines…) and headed about an hour into the jungle.
As our truck bumped along, all of a sudden we smelled them… ELEPHANTS. I have always had an affinity for these awe-inspiring creatures. I’ve acquired quite the collection of various stuffed elephants or elephant figurines or charms… I don’t know if it’s their wisdom, capacity for emotion, intense eyes, gentleness, strength, or just because they’re so cool-looking. But here I was— face to face with a REAL one!
As we were walked up the hill, a small elephant tumbled toward us. I mean, literally fell down and tumbled through the mud. (D’aww!) And we totally connected! (OK, I he was trying to grab my purse for food, but still.)
I shared my banana with one of the bigger ones. (WHAT?!?) And I got to ride on one of their necks! This massive creature moved with ease underneath me as we weaved through the jungle. It started to rain, and Acacia and I were on top of an elephant, looking out a breathtaking view of lush green mountains. What else do you do but spread your arms and smile?? Is this real life? We’ve been dreaming of this for years, and here we are! LIVING that dream!
It was more than feeling grateful or happy. It was FREEDOM.
It was connection. Deep connection with the Creator of the Universe, in His Eden, in the blessings He delights to give his dear daughters. Connection with myself as I realized this was exactly where I was supposed to be. Connection with a dear friend & sister in Christ as we shared this moment together. Connection with Creation. For a moment, I felt a piece of heaven.
AND THEN!
WE WENT TO A WATERFALL. We jumped off the cliff into the rapids.
My biggest physical fear is heights. And we were climbing up pretty darn high.
There were a few close calls on the slippery rocks where I thought, “God, please protect me! God, is this a good idea??” In risky moments, I have to rely on God.
(Sometimes it takes climbing a slippery cliff with close friends. Sometimes it takes having a hard conversation we’d rather not have.)
But I don’t do it alone. I had teammates offering hands and feet and thumbs up and cheers to give me the confidence to jump.
Sliding around the top of this cliff, hearing the rushing water and looking into the unknown, I was still freaked out.
But I was also fully relying on God. I was trusting Him that in this jump, just like in the climb, just like on the World Race, He is in control. I can’t jump half-heartedly… I have to jump far.
And so I did!
And it was a rush!! It was cleansing and freeing, like a piece of me was released.
So I did it again.
And again.
And every time, a part of me was released into really surrendering.
My fear? Let it go. My insecurities? Not real up here. My future after the Race? Let Him have it.
And I felt that deep connection, freedom that I had on the elephants before— with God, with myself, with my people, with creation. It was a picture of redemption, what the world should really be like, what we get hints of but can never seem to hold on to.
OUR DAY WASN’T EVEN OVER!!
As the final adventure, we forded some river rapids on some bamboo sticks held together with pieces of old tires and a strong Thai man leading us. It was refreshing & cool. I felt so present. Here I am, in Thailand, on bamboo, seeing snakes & twisted tree roots & Thai smiles, and riding down the rapids.
I even got to steer our raft for awhile! When the guide asked if I wanted to do it, I thought he was kidding. I was like, “Yeah, sure! He wasn’t kidding.
I stood up and gripped the stick of bamboo to steer us and took charge.
And I did pretty well!… for awhile. There was a peace there in creation, a sense of excitement doing something new.
(Ok, eventually, yes, I crashed us into some rocks. That was pretty inevitable. And promptly fell in, fully clothed, in slow-motion. Also inevitableWhoops.)
But I felt alive! Free! Confident & loved!
Because THIS is Kingdom living! THIS is what our hearts yearn for in Heaven!
Even if I’m not in a jungle in Thailand.
Even if I’m just walking down a familiar street
or making coffee in the morning
or talking to the new girl at work
or playing pool with prostitutes on bar street or talking about how hard life is with a girl who has to sell herself to make a living
or having that hard conversation with my best friend, that brings us closer
or praying for healing for the man on the side of the street
or smiling at the stripper at the bar here in Chiang Mai…
We bring the Kingdom HERE, even as we wait expectantly for Heaven.
So what does Kingdom living look like for YOU today? What moments can you own, breathe deeply and say, “Wow! This is what God means life to look like!”
Share below! 🙂
