or maybe just one rock. But a little rock that is gonna teach me a lot.
I've met up with my team in Georgia as we're here preparing for a few days before we fly out to China. I managed to get myself and my 50lbs of belongings on my back all the way to launch. An amazing feat if you saw me at the airport- pack mule style.
Leaving home for a year was difficult, and will probably only get a little tougher over the next few weeks. It's hard to be gone from everything familiar, and it's a different kind of hard on my family. The littlest of the McAdams bunch- Selah (she's 6)- made it perfectly clear she wasn't too excited about my leaving.
I made it to launch, and started unpacking my bag with my roommates. We were being challenged by our squad leader to rethink what was in our luggage and get rid of what we don't really need. A huge challenge to my American/Dallas lifestyle and the 50lbs I was convinced I could lug around the world. As soon as I opened my pack, out fell a rock with a big "thud". Not exactly a small rock- palm sized and rather dense. A rock placed inside my bag by my little sister to weigh me down so I wouldn't be able to leave… precious.
The rock was a hilarious and sweet reminder of how much my family loves me. And also an eye opener into what's really inside my pack. It was the perfect gift. It made me stop to think about the "rocks" I'm carrying around inside my pack. The things that weigh me down and hold me back from doing all God has for me this next year. We can become so distracted by the things we have around us, that we miss greater things right in front of us. I filled my pack to the brim with things I thought I couldn't live without- but I'm learning those things weigh me down from running after the better things in life. Stuff gets stolen, things get lost, back packs aren't waterproof and ultimately it all is gonna break. I have to choose to let the "rocks" in my pack go before they weigh me down from what God is going to do and provide for me.
So I am emptying my pack of the useless, extra, "american" comforts and I choose the rock as a reminder of God's sense of humor, love and desire to be our source of comfort. (don't worry I'll keep shelter, clothes, medicine and toiletries- I haven't lost my hygiene standard yet people).
Funny how God can use a little rock from my silly, sweet sister to totally change my attitude. And to remind me of home while I'm gone. I love it.
