Less

I have not been many places in this world. I have only spent 36 days total outside of the country that is my home. That's not a whole lot of time. Let me begin by saying how thankful I am to live in America. How thankful I am for the freedom and opportunity that comes with being born and raised in such a blessed nation. Every time I sing a patriotic song, I have to fight back tears. I was blessed to attend a college where I was required to read and study the Constitution before graduating. I don't take lightly what a blessing it is to call the United States my home.
If my 36 days outside my country have taught me anything--they've opened my eyes to how easy it can be to become caught up in the wrong set of priorities.

A new car. A bigger home. A new outfit for a big event. A cup of coffee handed to me in a matter of minutes. The newest apple product. More and more. My 36 days outside of the land of plenty have taught me that less is enough. What a gift it is to spend time in another country, in another culture and learn from the lives of others. It has been humbling to me to learn time and time again how little is really required to experience joy. When the culture around me in my every day often shouts "upgrade...make more money...buy more stuff..." my time outside of my own culture has reminded me how silly that message can be and how often I buy into it. Friends and others sometimes say to me "I could never do a mission trip like that," or list off the dangers or expense of travelling out of the country. And I can understand where they are coming from. Maybe it isn't for everybody. But I find myself wondering what I would be like without these experiences....without these wake up calls & reminders to help realign me with what is really important. When I study the life of Jesus and the parables he taught, over and over again his followers and disciples didn't fully understand the truth He was pointing them too. It was easy for them to get hung up on the way things should be--or the things he should be saying as a teacher. Don't we get a lot like that ourselves? The church should be teaching this...or preaching this...when often the heart and the truth of where we should align ourselves is right in front of us. I am not pointing the finger here at anyone other than myself. My challenge for myself is to allow the lessons I've learned about joy & selflessness to now become the root of my daily decisions. The way I spend my resources and my time. A friend asked me yesterday, if I would recommend a trip to a developing country to absolutely anyone and without hesitation my answer is yes. And if out of the country seems too far fetched then start with a small step out of your comfort zone...get to know the neighbors on your street, volunteer within a ministry of your church family or within your community. On my bathroom mirror is a post-it note, with this reminder "Joy doesn't mean more." 36 days have helped me with this wake up call...I have a long way to go but am praising God for His grace in the midst of striving..."Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2"