My passport came in the mail the other day. And my heart went pitter-patter. It’s actually happening.
Yes, indeed, this wild dream of mine that I said I would never dream is coming true.
{What? You don’t know about that one? Oh, it’s quite the story.}
Rewind to that know-it-all twelve-year-old me who was just falling head over high heels in love with Jesus…
Back to when got-it-all-together-thank-you-very-much (that’s me) had just discovered the God-who-lived-by-Truth-by-breaking-all-the-rules.
Seriously. Jesus… Do you realize how much He riled up the religious? Makes my head spin…
‘Cause you see, I was one of those. Pinned to perfectionism. Lassoed to legalistic–almost. Holding on to holier-than-thou goody-two-shoes.
Until the Walls came tumbling down. Until I learned about perfectly imperfect. Until I realized being His is all that really matters.
Enough confessing. Back to that dream I told God I would never dream.
Yep. You read that right. Little-Miss-five-feet-tall-maybe from Little Town, South looked up to heaven and said, God, You know I love reading about missionaries.
But I’m not one.
Got it?
Yeah, audacious, I know. Bold-as-brass. And wrong-as-all-get-out. So, so wrong.
I don’t think there was a defining moment, actually, when I truly looked up and said that. But I definitely meant it. Knew it. Breathed it. Never was I going anywhere I had to get dirty, anywhere I had to get down, anywhere I had to leave my cocoon and embrace air and fly.
Embracing air? It hurts. So does realizing I’m wrong.
I don’t think there was a defining moment, either, when I caught my breath and slapped my head and thought, oh, duh. I can’t do that. Or say that. Not to this daring God I serve.
It must have happened slowly, gradually, like those love stories that leave you with a happy sigh and a sappy smile.
And one day I woke up and prayed the prayer that got me into this
daring-is-my-word-and-missions-are-my-passion-and-ready-or-not-world-here-I-come-so-get-ready.
So here I am staring down my first flight, which also just so happens to be an international flight. To Costa Rica. Central America. That’s a whole other continent, people.
Tierra Blanca. Two words that have come to mean so much more than White Ground. That’s the village where I’ll be the last week of June. Two years to the day when I was celebrating at my graduation and eighteenth birthday party in a peach dress, I’ll be flying out of the country. Passport in hand.
Dream come true.
{By the way, in addition to telling God I just wasn’t cut out to be a missionary, I also told God I never wanted to be a teacher. That worked out well, too.}
Ever did something you never thought you’d do?
Sarah, what a great line I've never quite thought about in that way before. :)<br /><br />Thank you so much! <br /><br />Oh, I know!! Me, too!
"Thou doth protest too much, young one." That's what my momma always jokingly said to me when I adamantly proclaimed that I wasn't gonna do something. She was right too. I did protest too much! Because when I shunned opportunities and things that I knew that the Lord had willed for me I found myself slowly broken to HIS great plans and will for my life.<br /><br />Anyway…<br /
Since I replied to this comment in an email, I'll suffice it to say that: My writer-sister Julia, you make me smile. :)
{big hug back} Added the app to our list of things to do! :D<br /><br />Thinking of you amid the hustle and bustle today! :) <br /><br />I'm going to try hard to finish my notes/comments on part one so I can send it to you before I leave for the convention on Wednesday! :) <br /><br />Also… HELP. I'm being bombarded by my busy brain with boatloads of ideas for my Book 2! (slightly
Tracey, YES. Rwanda!? Wow, that sounds amazing. Thank you so much! {Hug}
If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans! Lines in a song I enjoy…and proven true in my life. For me it was Rwanda, the summer of 2009 and hubby and I actually took our two teens – my parents thought we were nuts, as did others in our life. but when God tells you His plans, it is so necessary to just say yes. YOU GO GIRL! I just lifted up a prayer for you. Big Hug!
Julia,<br /><br />{big hug} You're such a great commenter. :)<br /><br />I will be saying "shoo." Just for you. :) It's not nearly as scary to think about when I have that to say to the hairy little thing.<br /><br />I've heard of that app! When we visit, I'll have to show you the constellations I know how to find and see if I'm right. :)<br /><br />And I'm so
Blub. I meant part 1 in the above comment. 'Twas a typo. *facedesk*
Hi Rachelle!<br /><br />YAY for getting your passport! That's awesome! You can do it, dear friend. If you see a tarantula, just say "Shoo!" :D <br /><br />Just got back inside from stargazing with my brothers! :) We found a really, really cool app for Mama's iPhone that shows you what stars, planets, constellations, etc. that you're looking at, at any given position, using
Jennifer, exciting-terrifying. EXACTLY. You just summed up my post in two words – so nice. And…thank you. :)<br /><br />Thanks, Miss Hatcher. Love that profile pic.<br /><br />Mrs. Dorie, keep reminding me of that, please!<br /><br />Mrs. Anne, I am smiling so big over your comment. :D Thank you.
Rachel, well, that boosts my confidence factor 'cause sometimes all I want to do is HIDE in this shell (cocoon?) of mine! Oooooooh, I wish I could have worn a peach grad gown. Alas, mine was blue. :) My party dress though was peach. Well, since I still have and wear it, I guess I should say *is* peach. :) Wuv that dress. *daydreams about peach dresses and blue high heels for a moment*<br /><
So excited for you! I know it will be a life-changing trip, both for you and for the people you will encounter. So proud of your faith and your daring! Can't wait to hear all that God will do in and through you!
Let go and let God. And, by the way, he'll take care of the lizards and spiders! Expecting great things!<br />Dorie
oh my! Hope you have a nice trip!<br /><br />*thesweetandthesimple.blogspot.com*
This post is really inspiring to me! I can't tell you how many times I've <i>told</i> God, "Nope, that's not happening," only later to be proven wrong. It's kind of exciting but at the same time quite terrifying. I hope you have a great time learning about yourself and your relationship with God and spreading His love to others. Blessings!
LOVED this post! I love it when I get to see the inner-Shell. ;) Daring, Blue high heals and peach dresses. :D (love that about you btw, seriously wished I'd worn a peach grad gown at my graduation!)<br /><br />I am *SO* proud of you for listening to what God was leading you too…far too often it's easy for us as Christians to become afraid or push those feelings and thoughts aside. {