I'm Ready
Minus that I haven't packed a single thing even though I start the journey to Florida in just a little over 24 hours. (It's just sprawled over the sun room that I've decided to take over since being home.)
Minus that I still have to actually get down to Florida.
Minus that I'm still waiting on some last minute things to arrive in the mail.
Minus that I still have roughly $5000 to raise.
Minus that I still have some big "until next times" to say.
Minus that pretty much every day I wake up I DON'T feel like I'm leaving for 11 months in the next few days.
Minus that I STILL haven't managed to figure a way to keep all the ice cream I plan on taking from melting.
I really am ready though. I promise. No freak outs yet. I'm not a freak out person, but even still I've sort of expected the magnitude of soon to departing on the World Race to wollop me upside the head and cause some freak out about being gone for roughly 11 months while roughing it out of a backpack the whole time. That would be the normal response to all of this at least right?
So why exactly is it that I feel ready?
Jeremiah 1:5-8 – “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 – "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet and called as a messenger proclaiming the Word and the good works of God. He faced opposition. He faced rejection. He found himself in some poor and tough situations. But he still chose to be obedient in this calling. He chose to put his faith in and trust in God. He had doubts, as we all do, but God basically told him not to sweat the small stuff. He would let him know what to say. That He had things planned out. That He'd be with Jeremiah every step of the way on his own journey to which he'd been called.
I don't expect this to be a walk in the park. Maybe some days, but not all of them. I don't expect us to be accepted or what we might say to be accepted everywhere we go. But my prayer is to have the same faith and perserverance that Jeremiah had throughout his life and throughout his work.
This is why I'm ready.
As an added bonus, instead of focusing on the things I will miss and won't have/see/hear/taste/etc in the next 11 months , I've decided to celebrate the things experienced in day to day life that I will not experience or miss for the next year! So here's my Top 5 things I won't be missing this next year.
5. The Celebrity Gossip Industry. – I'm beyond thankful to not have to be subjected to this every single day.
4. Starbucks – I'd love to just say coffee in general, but I realize there's no chance of that actually happening. 🙂
3. 2012 Election Campaigns – I do believe in being involved in the election process and I do think it's important for everyone to be aware/informed of the various candidates and issues. I am however thankful that I pretty much miss the whole presidential campaign season. We're just under 11 months away and I've already had my fill.
2. Cell Phones – Every time I think about this, I do the Snoopy happy dance because I'm so giddy. Nearly a year without cellphones??? Paradise! But what could possibly be better than this since it's only at the # 2 spot? (This picture by the way is of recycled cell phones.)
1. TSUN aka The School Up North aka Meatchicken – I'd like to keep this blog kid and family appropriate, so I'll refrain from actually using the name of said school. But suffice to say, it won't be missed at all.
