I really feel like life has been flying by. I've had some great opportunities over the past month, but it made time go even faster. I've still been trying to process... I'll give you a little snapshot into my mind.
Jordan and I left for Castaway Club on August 1st and were planning to stay until the 6th as adult guests (a.k.a. the nicest, most relaxing, and spiritually challenging vacation ever). We spent that week going to various planning meetings, spending time on the beach, reading on the deck that overlooked the lake... just soaking it all in. We also spent time getting to know the staff that was at the camp for the month of August. After making some great connections, I ended up staying through August 12th to work at Castaway for a WyldLife week. (if all of this seems like Greek to you, check out www.yl.org)
[note: please don't hate me after reading this. this is called pure, unfiltered honesty...]
Throughout the first week, Jordan and I were faced with materialism, which forced us to reevaluate our priorities and values. I'm still processing, but it was clear to me that stuff is a barrier in my ability to have freedom in life through Christ. I find myself comparing what I have to what others have and always wanting more. I have a list a mile long of all the things I want - when does it get to the point that that list starts to control the person I am?
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:7-10)I have a birthday coming up, and my mind naturally drifts toward my wish list of gifts (this is where that "don't hate me" thing comes into play). I could easily rattle off 20 things I'd love to receive for my birthday... and they're all material. On Twitter, I follow a great organization called Charity Water and I've been seeing their marketing to give up your birthday - meaning to ask for donations to their organization instead of gifts or money. Welcome, conflict. As much as I'd love a heaping pile of gifts and money, I can't help but remember that there are people all over the world who have much less than I do - even down to suitable drinking water. So I'm stuck in the tension of what I want vs. what other people need. The answer should be clear, but sometimes it seems hard to discern... mostly because I'm human and sometimes the right thing just doesn't seem as fun for me. :-) I can sit here and justify the reason that I need money (trip to NYC, trip to Vail this winter, we're "poor" newlyweds, etc., etc.), but I have a pit in my stomach. People don't have water. I already have two trips planned (that we can afford... any extra $$ would just be for fun spending... of more stuff that I really don't need). Anyway. Hopefully I'm not the only person who gets stuck in this tension - Jordan even said he thinks it's a good tension to feel. It means that I'm actually processing the "in this world, not of it" part of being a Christian. Tough stuff.
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. (John 15:19)Our Young Life experience was incredible. An amazing vacation - mostly because it combined relaxation with great times of ministry and spiritual growth. We were challenged personally and as a couple, and I'm so thankful that we got to have this experience.
Much more I could write, but this is getting long. I'll leave you with this fun picture of us parasailing (gotta love the windblown look).
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