It has taken me some time to fully absorb and marinate all
the takeaways that were packed into this summer. Oh what a beautiful season it has been. Thank you Jesus. Here’s my synopsis so far:
My first time in Uganda was an experience that I will never
forget and never will be able to compare to any other experience in my
life. I am in awe of God’s goodness that
He would love and care for my heart so much to allow me to go on such a trip
where I was shown His purely redemptive Love for His Creation. Not only was I exposed to a radical and
transformative Love, but I also was able to see that love fill me, change my
heart, and heal my spirit from burdens and strongholds I had carried with me on
the plane to Uganda and was freed from during my time there. As I walk through the remaining weeks of
summer, I continue to see new seasons of refreshment and healing as I press in
to the Lord.
Jesus has revealed so much to me this summer about meaning,
purpose, and calling. These fancy,
elaborate, and sometimes stress-inducing words are meant to be endearing
treasures to seek and find.
“I’d always sensed my treasure might be
locked away in a chest on the other side of the world, but perhaps right in front
of our faces, just needing recognition.
It existed because I existed. Before I was born, along with a crowning
inheritance. My treasure was there all
along, even before I knew to search for it.” (Freefall to Fly by Rebekah Lyons, page 187)
What a comforting thing it is to know that God has given our
hearts burdens, fears, desires, and gifts that uniquely and purposefully formulate
our meaning. That what we are doing, and
where we are, and who we are, is on
purpose. I want to continue to seek out this
treasure of mine.
I also learned from this book and throughout this summer’s
experiences that anxiety often occurs in the absence of one’s sense of meaning
and purpose. When we don’t know what we
are to do—what we are meant to do—in the big and small, we sway back and forth
on our feet looking and yearning desperately for direction. My dear readers, I want you to know that you
are Known. That those fears, those
worries, even that anxiety based upon a premature desire for meaning, are
KNOWN. And God is patiently and
pursuingly (I just made that a word) waiting for you to withhold and open the
treasure inside of you and in front of you.
Let’s find Him in the daily moments: when we become anxious with needing
to schedule out the day or schedule out our life (college probs) and let’s
pause in acknowledgement that it is all because of Him that we can experience
meaning. Then—walk in it Beloved! Move
those beautiful and anointed feet of yours. And God is there to further reveal
to us that treasure of ours. He’s
weaving some golden thread through all those gaps in life that we can’t seem to
make sense of, and assuring us that, yes—that too—I did for your good and My
Glory, Annie.
For me personally, one of the things I have learned about
myself in opening and exploring my treasure is this:
Beauty, grace, and love can be found
when I, in vulnerability, quiet my own agenda to be present and open to those
around me.
So what is it that you—and you alone—were Created to do?
It’s not a fearful unknown to shut out of sight or be afraid of, it’s a lovely
mystery to uncover and embrace, my friends.
Join me in the discovery and the undoing that is this spark
of life.
Like what I’m learning and want further exploration?
Books I’m reading:
Freefall
to Fly by Rebekah Lyons
Crash
the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick
Albums I’m listening to:
Atlas:
Year One by Sleeping at Last
You
Make Me Brave by Bethel Music
Black
Bear by Andrew Belle
Blogs I’m reading:
Thorn and Sparrow {thornandsparrow.com}
Shauna Niequist {shaunaniequist.com}
Sally Rae Kim {simplysallyrae.tumblr.com}
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