Life is good, for which I rejoice!
One day till China. Well, one day until I leave for China, a while longer until I get there. Today the church commissioned me, after all, though I won't be evangelizing, this is a mission trip.
It's weird to be going on a mission trip when so many people around me seem to view belief in God, much less in Jesus, as an antiquated, maybe romantic but illogical, notion. I must admit I'm not big on going to church or reading the Bible or on most traditional approached to religion. I don't listen to contemporary Christian music and I'm not going to stick a Jesus fish on my car or start sporting a WWJD bracelet or even say a blessing efore every meal. I have what I like to think of as a practical, working faith.
My belief in a higher power, in God, gives me peace and motivation to do the right thing. Whether he (or she) looks down on my acts and judges me or not, the creator is what ties us all together. It gives me hope, knowing that a power greater than me has a purpose for my life. A lot of people hear "God has a purpose for your life" and think that means she's cruel because bad things happen or that he expects you to sacrifice what you want in order to serve him. But, I've realized that following my fate and having faith in that greater purpose has given me what I want, even when I didn't know what I wanted.
I look at my life and all of the things that have happened to me. I've survived some really tough times. During those times, I didn't realize it, but all of my hardship was strengthening me, making me the person I am today. And who am I? I am a person a degree from college, a loving family, friendships that have truly survived adversity, a sense of humor, and quite a few stamps in my passport. I am self-sufficient and apparently smart and able enough to go to the other side of the world to help people. There is know way I could be where I am today if somebody up there hadn't been looking out for me. All of the coincidences, all of the bad things that worked out for the better, all the lessons I've learned; there's got to be a God. I know I've lived a pretty sheltered life and that it's not too hard to have faith when you're as lucky as I am. I have a lot to learn, but I'm working on that. One thing I do know, my faith and optimism, even if they are perhaps ill founded, have served me better than being bitter and resenting God for all the bad in the world ever could.
It's weird to be going on a mission trip when so many people around me seem to view belief in God, much less in Jesus, as an antiquated, maybe romantic but illogical, notion. I must admit I'm not big on going to church or reading the Bible or on most traditional approached to religion. I don't listen to contemporary Christian music and I'm not going to stick a Jesus fish on my car or start sporting a WWJD bracelet or even say a blessing efore every meal. I have what I like to think of as a practical, working faith.
My belief in a higher power, in God, gives me peace and motivation to do the right thing. Whether he (or she) looks down on my acts and judges me or not, the creator is what ties us all together. It gives me hope, knowing that a power greater than me has a purpose for my life. A lot of people hear "God has a purpose for your life" and think that means she's cruel because bad things happen or that he expects you to sacrifice what you want in order to serve him. But, I've realized that following my fate and having faith in that greater purpose has given me what I want, even when I didn't know what I wanted.
I look at my life and all of the things that have happened to me. I've survived some really tough times. During those times, I didn't realize it, but all of my hardship was strengthening me, making me the person I am today. And who am I? I am a person a degree from college, a loving family, friendships that have truly survived adversity, a sense of humor, and quite a few stamps in my passport. I am self-sufficient and apparently smart and able enough to go to the other side of the world to help people. There is know way I could be where I am today if somebody up there hadn't been looking out for me. All of the coincidences, all of the bad things that worked out for the better, all the lessons I've learned; there's got to be a God. I know I've lived a pretty sheltered life and that it's not too hard to have faith when you're as lucky as I am. I have a lot to learn, but I'm working on that. One thing I do know, my faith and optimism, even if they are perhaps ill founded, have served me better than being bitter and resenting God for all the bad in the world ever could.
