Dear Future McCann’s,
I’m writing this at the 9-month marker of living in Peru. Maybe we’ll have to refer to this for a reminder at the 9-month-1-week marker, or maybe in 10 years. A collaboration of things we’ve learned over the past nine months, things we never want to forget, lessons we want to foster; written for the future Matt and Sophie:
- Future McCann’s, it is SO true that God reveals Himself through discomforts. Hard things. Broken people. Uncomfortable relationships. Your own lack of adequacy. So NEVER say NO to something out of fear of discomfort. Seek out hard things. See your inadequacies as an opportunity for God to show up, because He will have to, there’s no other option!
- Future McCann’s (more so Sophie), the things that keep you up at night will probably be the things that you end up praising the Lord for in the morning…so are they really worth losing sleep over? You can EXPECT Him to show up, because He does 10/10 times. Actually 11/10 times.
- GUESS WHAT?! His plans are bigger than YOU! Whatever you thought He was going to do, it’s bigger. It’s better. It’s broader. Yet perfect peace is possible in the middle of total chaos and big scary unknown spaces.
- Hey McCann’s, if we had known everything that we were saying “yes” to at the little Northwestern booth three years ago, as a dating couple, we probably wouldn’t have said it. But just think of what we would have missed out on. Never fear the process that’s required to bring you to the place the Lord has called you. If He has called you to it, He’s in charge of making it happen. Pressure’s off.
- Fix your eyes on Jesus each and every morning and with a big joyful “yes!” (whether you feel like it or not) open your hands – yes even on the mundane Tuesday – and watch what He does.
- Keep a journal and write a little bit every day. It’s so helpful to remember what God’s done, and the good, bad, and ugly of life. A way to remember the awesome dates we’ve had, ways I see Matt grow and vice-versa, and challenges we’ve overcome as a way of seeing progress.
- The little moments within a day are actually the big ones. They accumulate fast and it’s the simple time spent with each other, others, and God that really add up. Don’t rip yourself off by filling your days so full that you miss out!
- Don’t go to sleep without writing in your gratitude notebook every night. Again, looking at past entries it really is the little things: sufficient water pressure for a shower, imported snacks, essential oils that remind us of home, a perfect avocado.
- Learn what being fully present actually look like. It’s more than a “dream-world” concept. It’s attainable. In a fast world, watch yourself and don’t allow yourself to be intoxicated by technology. Don’t cop out and accept that that is normal life for you or your family. Consumerism is a choice.
- Different people are really, really cool. Withhold…actually just get rid of all judgement. There’s more than one way to cut a mango.
- You can learn more from books than any Google search. I don’t know if that has been scientifically proven, but it’s true for us.
- Beyond foundational truths of the Bible, there aren’t a lot of strong right and wrongs. Don’t let pride or arrogance keep you from being approachable. We have SO much to learn from others!
- Sometimes the greatest hospitality you can offer is letting someone else serve you. Receiving from the people who have nothing. Treating everyone with dignity and not assuming you always have the best gift to give.
- Always be on the edge of a steep learning curve. Don’t ever “arrive” or think you will. There’re way too many cool things to learn in this life. If you get to the top, get the heck off ASAP!
- You receive way more from giving than receiving. The things that maybe seem small and are maybe all you have to give in the moment, are big. A little encouragement, an act of service, a compliment, smile, the last bit of smoothie. Never be stingy with generosity.
- Don’t forget the colors of the countless butterflies and toucans that were hidden in the jungle that no one would have even seen had we not been riding in the back of a 4x4 truck. Just because. Look for those little miracles and remember by no means did God have to make them, or make them that beautiful, or let us see them. He likes us a lot.