Days Go By

As I was taking down the pictures in my room and starting the process of packing, I was just hit with shock.  This is really the end of my time here in Darwin. I arrived here in Darwin on Feb 23, 2013 as this random American who literally knew no one. When I arrived I decided to invest in this place like there were no goodbyes.  Now as I leave I’m able to leave as a friend to many and know that this was home for the time that I was here.

My time away has been a time of pain, joy, laughter and tears. Through all of it I wouldn’t change what I experienced for anything. I’m not 100% percent sure why I had to come all the way to Darwin to learn what I did but I’m so thankful God made a way for me to come here.  I have learned that God is beyond faithful and knows me so much better then I know myself. Through everything I pray that I continue to trust that he goes before me and is always good.

If you know me then you understand how much I hate goodbyes. I’m someone that would rather just jump on a plane and not say anything to anyone. However over the years God has softened my heart to even love in my last days. Even though I hate the aspect of travelling and meeting amazing people and then having to say goodbye God has shown me that it is so much better to love then to ignore.  I am now thankful that my goodbyes are so hard because it means an exchange of kindness, love or laughter was encountered with those people.

 

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

 

 

A tad cheesy but I still love singing this song =]

Comfort

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. - C.S.Lewis

These last couple of years have been a never ending process of  expanding my comfort zones. Through this I have learned that comfort can never be attained here on earth. There is of course one exception which is salvation. Christ who died for us promises that who ever believes in him will have eternal life. That is the only thing that can not perish, our salvation in Christ. So even though there are temporary comforts Christ love should be the only comfort we pursue. A friend of mine was called to be homeless in New York City for 3 months. During that time he never had any illusion of worldly comforts, the only thing he could trust and hope in was Christ's love for him. Even though he didn't have a bed or constant food he couldn't deny The Lord loved him. Take a second to think that if you didn't have a bed, food, more then one outfit or any friends to talk to would you still believe The Lord loved you? Even here in Manila people lack the basic standards for a comfortable life but they are experiencing the riches of Gods love everyday. You don't have to convince them that Jesus loves because they know and they are living on a garbage dump. So why do we have this illusion that if The Lord loves us we will be comfortable in the worldly standards?  These encounters are helping me understand that God doesn't call us to a comfortable lifestyle, not saying we should all become homeless but God is always calling us to do something. 

I'm having to re learn everyday on how to lay down my needs, I have this illusion that I'm entitled  to certain things. I think I'm entitled to a mattress, warm showers, privacy, regular dentist appointments and food I like but I'm not. If I keep this illusion that I deserve to experience these basic things I get caught in pursuing what comforts me. I should be pursuing Jesus and showing his love to the people I encounter and stop worrying if I'm gonna like dinner.