I guess I’m not too sure what I expected. Once I decided on the World Race, I knew I’d need to take the spring semester off for fundraising, prep, that sort of thing. So starting out this year, I have to say, I was fully prepared for no class, no homework, no exams. However, I definitely wasn’t prepared for a job that never lets me sleep in past 5:15. For this weird feeling of aloneness that comes from being 3 1/2 hours away from all your friends. For conflicting schedules that let me rarely get to visit my sister.
Now if I’m being completely honest, complaining feels good. So I won’t lie to you, that’s more or less what I did for the first month and a half of this year. Complained. Nice start to 2017, huh? And wouldn’t you know it, after a while, He was just about sick of hearing it. So in His normal way, like a metaphorical ton of bricks, (because tbh, that’s the only way it gets through my thick head) He dropped this on me.
While I’ve been wallowing in my own pity, what all have I been missing? In the absence of my old community, I’ve started leaning on the Lord more than I have in probably ever, and the difference is noticeable. This is the first time I’ve lived with my mom since high school, and we’re closer than we have been in a long time. It’s the small things too. You know how much new music I’ve been able to find with all this free time? Tons. Now sure I don’t get to visit my friends every weekend, but you know what? Starting in August, I won’t be able to see them for 11 months!
So eventually, it finally got through to me. God’s stripping parts away little by little. Instead of complaining all the time, I can finally see all I have to be thankful for. He’s pruning me so that I can go into this experience as a blank slate. Fully prepared for whatever He has up His sleeve.
