Life is a funny thing. You think you have it all planned out, but fail to realize that maybe there's more to the scenery that we can't see. Then our path takes an unforeseen turn. We may not understand at first how it will get us to our destination, but as we trust and move forward it becomes more clear. Here's a peek into our journeyings, discoveries and adventures in life.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
We're Not That Different in the End
A lot has changed in my life over the last couple of weeks. I up and moved to Page, Arizona where I will be teaching 2nd grade in a school with 60% Navajo students. I haven't really had experience with Navajos, but I love learning about different cultures and am excited about the new adventure. Today I was talking to a friend who told me of a trip he took with a service group to a Navajo reservation. He related how there were gang-type groups of Native Americans who would graffiti the walls and how the government had paid money for all of the walls to be repainted every year. That several years previous, the government had given them the materials necessary to build fences and none of the places had fences. How they wouldn't get up and work to fix anything. Instead they sat around complaining about what they didn't have while the volunteers worked hard to get them what they felt they needed. Now I'm not saying Navajos are lazy and ungrateful, I haven't met any yet that are and I know that there are all types in all cultures. But, I began to think about what he told me, I realized that we are not immune from that type of behavior. The Lord gives us everything we need to create a successful and joyful life yet, there are times when we sit there and complain about what we don't have and how we deserve more. We're the ones sitting, watching and expecting the Lord to do all the work while we reap the benefits. Everything we have comes from the Lord and we don't always choose to focus on what we have or the fact the Lord has helped us obtain it. Instead we're wondering why certain things have or haven't happened in our lives. I told this friend that some of the Navajo here don't even have running water and he responded, "I don't feel sorry for them, they can get it if they want to." It made me wonder if I'm missing out on any blessings that are available to me because of my stubbornness. The Lord has promised us a lot more than running water if we but come unto Him, are we doing our small part to obtain it? If I by chance, happen to meet a Navajo who is like me friend described, I'll be able to relate. Because in the end, we're not all that different.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Holes
Here's a writing piece I wrote my freshman year of college.
I remember it as a perfectly warm day in May. I felt some nervousness as I situated myself in the kayak and looked down the river. This would be my first river run in a kayak. Good thing my experienced dad would be beside me the whole time. He scanned the river, "See that hole straight across from you? That's a nasty hole, I don't think you're ready for it, but the best path for these rapids is on the other side of that hole. So what I want you to do," he continued, "Is to ferry on up the river and get tot he other side of the hole. Just don't hit that hole." He warned me.
I nodded and looked at the rapids I would have to face. Excitement and nervousness filled my body. I slid myself down from the bank, into the river and began paddling hard. All too soon, however, I noticed the rapids quickly approaching and realized that I wouldn't make it far enough across the river. I was headed right for the hole! I turned by boat forward so I could at least meet my challenge face on. As I saw my opposition, a sheer look of terror spread across my face, "could I make it through this?" I wondered. The waves came crashing around me, and I felt the exhilaration of kayaking a river. After the rapids, I looked back through what I had gone through, "I went over that" I thought, amazed. "If I did that, maybe I can conquer this river!" My dad caught up with me, I was still breathing hard, trying to calm myself down after all the excitement. I turned to him with a big smile, "That was fun!" I exclaimed. I've learned that the river of life is much the same way; it's not always smooth going, but the rough spots make it interesting, You may be frightened at the sight of a big challenge, but after it's all over, you look back and realize how good that experience was for you. These holes in life are where you gain courage and grow the most.
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