I have come to the conclusion that I never want to be normal. Not that I can really say I ever have been, or that there is even something as conclusive as "normal." This is one of many reasons as to why I have chosen to live in a house with sixty of the most amazing people on the planet- a house that consists of six bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms- specifically with my room which contains five bunk beds and ten girls, and one closet.
More than coming to the understanding that every person is different, unique and at there own place in their life, I have really been challenged on what it means to love and serve others. While I was in South Africa a huge focus of my time there was what does it mean for me to love others, and specifically what does love look like. I have taken those thoughts and brought them here where I have an opportunity to apply those lessons to my everyday life. It is a unique life style to continually be on the move, place to place, never staying for more than six months. It has certainly been a roller coaster of emotions. And I can easily say that through working with Invisible Children this crazy ride has only gotten started. My days look like more than just a 9-5 job; I wake up at 6:30 to leave the house and get to the office by 7:20 where we work till 4:00 have training until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. All the while busting up from the hilarity of my boss or the amazing moments that occur while sitting across from my teammates for eight hours. Whereupon we come home, sometimes study or continue to work on booking, or even invest so much of ourselves into one another through amazing conversations about things from Lord of the Rings to what it means to be a human and the effects of suffering.
I can in no way say that my life in anyway resembles what the global concept of an average american should be doing at age twenty, but I am in no way average. Instead I am a poor servant who is loving a life spent loving others. I have come to see that I have a part to play in our global community, and I feel empowered to know that I am making a difference in the world. I hear the criticism of why help abroad when so many are suffering in the states as well, and to that I say follow your passions. My passions for serving others are not limited by social boundaries as everyone needs love.
As I am about to embark on this amazing, yet strange and weird, opportunity to live and travel in a van with my three teammates, Cardinal, Andrew, and Roy, and I have challenged myself to wake up every morning with a fervor for life. I want to wake and make the conscious decision that it's not about myself. To make the decision to sacrifice my own wants and desires for others, and in particular, for my teammates. I challenge you to do the same.
"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
No comments:
Post a Comment