The Power of Gratitude: Part 1
I love hiking. Something about being outdoors and witnessing the beauty of creation lifts my spirit. Yes, even if it’s in frigid cold of Midwest winter when my crazy friend visiting from Chicago says “Let’s go for a walk.” During those moments I’m the happiest. Very unlike the beginning of this month when in contrast I felt… well… kind of bitter. My funding deadline to leave in March was a only a few days away. It was pretty unlikely I’d be leaving based on our original plan. The overall frustration made every little irritation felt like someone adding one more brick on my shoulders… Read more >>
Thy Will be Done: Finding Peace on Earth as it is in Heaven
The holidays are officially over meaning support raising is back in full swing. There are people to contact, appointments to make, relationships to grow, and (hopefully) funding to raise. With my late January deadline looming in the not-so-distant future, it feels like the final lap in Mario Kart. Will I cross the finish line in first place and meet my deadline for a March departure? Or will I leave in a later month? Despite the stressful season that’s began, I’m grateful for the reflection time Christmas and New Years provided. One thought which has consistently entered my head is… Read more >>
God's Never Late
There’s something beautiful about abandoned, forgotten structures. Maybe it’s because they’ve withstood the test of time. They’re brandished with scars, but persevere. Each broken window, stripped piece of paint, and missing floor board another layer to their story. Sometimes I wonder if God admires us in a similar way. Life might bruise us, but we’re still standing. We’re not perfect, but with each time life gets tough there’s another lesson learned and another tale to tell. Unfortunately, sometimes in the midst of hardship we forget something very important: God’s with us every step of… Read more >>
Kick Down the Door
Have you heard of the game Munchkin? Basically, it’s a family board game that makes fun of Dungeons and Dragons. At the beginning of every turn each player “kicks open the door” by flipping over the top card from a draw pile. The card might be a challenge, like a monster the player must “fight,” or a reward. As a fulltime support raiser, I’ve kicked down a lot of doors lately. I’ve entered and re-entered into the lives of friends and family. With each new meeting, it’s like I’ve thrown open a “door.” Often, I have no idea what I’m walking into. Sometimes the people are in high spirits.… Read more >>