2016. With all the adventure, self-discovery, love, laughter, peace, and growth, I’m tempted to throw out the ‘ol cliche “what a year!”
I lost a beloved friend and made precious new ones. I roadtripped around the Southeastern US a lot. I lived in a shed in the magical Nantahala National Forest and met some of the grooviest people I’ve yet to come across. I acquired a deep adoration for the Smokey Mountains. I prayed a lot. I finished my last college class and started calling myself an ACR. I marveled at God’s creation from many mountaintops, riverbanks, fields of wildflowers and tropical beaches. I let my love affair with reading flourish. I became okay with doing things alone. I celebrated a year of sobriety and shared my experience to help others. I sought God’s purpose for the next season of my life and committed to the World Race. I let go of old baggage and dug deeper to discover even more. I found the true meaning of being present. I forgave people and lived in accordance with my true identity. I embraced my freedom in Jesus and experienced an abundance of joy that I didn’t know was possible.
2016 was phenomenal, but not just because I did some cool things.
I remember reflecting at its start, saying “I’m guaranteed to have some really bad days in 2016. Every year has its ups and its downs, but I believe that so long as I turn to God, I’ll be okay.” And that’s what happened.
Was I perfect? No. Did I always have a smile on my face? Definitely not. Did everything always go my way? No way José.
I had to learn, in a less than gentle way, that the honeymoon phase with Jesus was just that: a phase. It was all about doing life – real, messy, imperfect life and all of its unexpected challenges – with a steady reliance upon him. As it is with any relationship, the idea that feelings will do the heavy lifting is just absurd. They’re fun and all, but they aren’t solid. They aren’t reliable or consistent.
On the surface, 2017 doesn’t appear to be reliable or consistent in the least for me. I’m going to commence on a journey to serve in 11 countries, and much of the itinerary and detail is still up in the air. For one, I still have a lot of funding to raise before I’m 100 percent guaranteed to get on a plane in August. Also, I don’t know the people I’ll be spending every waking moment with, let alone who I’ll be meeting along the way. I don’t know where I’ll sleep or even what cities I’ll be in. While I could be filled with fear of the unknown, deep down inside I know that none of it matters that much in his grand scheme. Circumstances can’t have the power to shift my heart when I focus on the fact that I have a Companion and Guide in the Creator of the Universe. God will not forsake me. All is, and will be, well.
Circumstances shift, but the love of the Lord remains. I don’t know about you, but I’m so thankful for that. 2016 taught me that his unfailing love is enough.
As we transition into new beginnings, embark on new adventures, or even just replace last year’s calendar, let’s all remember that the circumstances of this year don’t have to define our lives.
There is always a brighter side, especially when we turn it over to our loving Father. May he bless and keep you this year and forever!
Much, much love,
McKenzie
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
- Isaiah 40:8
