All I Have I Give Freely
On last week one of my closest friends arrived to visit me in the U.K. Her visit occurs on the culmination of five other friends “crossing the pond” to explore my temporary home and see a few new sights. While each visit has been exceptionally special, this one gains a few gold stars because: our friendship spans 18 years; her visit occurred right at the 3-month anniversary of me being abroad and 3-month countdown to my 40th birthday; her visit was during the start of Holy Week; today we will celebrate Resurrection Sunday; and we are continuing on for the next week and a half to visit a few other countries. I am ecstatic about the places we will see and the adventures we will partake in over the days to come – this friend is also one of my favorite travel partners. If my mini vacation ended at seeing her off, I would be completely pleased and grateful …. but it doesn’t. After she leaves and after spending an additional two days in London on my own, I will join a delegation to embark on a two-week college tour in New Zealand and Australia! Never in a million years did I imagine my coming to the U.K. would open so many doors and be so transformative: personally and professionally.
As I’ve thought about the places I have seen and those to come, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with gratitude. Little ole me from a small, rural town in the southeast. Little ole me who didn’t fly for the first time until I was in undergrad or leave the U.S. for the first time until I was in my early 20s. Little ole me who has now lived in two countries and explored so many more; traveled across the U.S. and beyond, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the Caribbean; and little ole who knows the adventure continues! I have also taken many moments to pause and think about what my being afforded these opportunities means in the larger realm. I acknowledge that these adventures are not solely for my own pleasure and enjoyment. While travel has always been and remains opportunities for me to rest, be restored, and experience the vastness of our world, it also fosters opportunities to experience God in a multitude of places. When I am looking at uninhibited landscapes, or ruins that have remained for centuries, or hear people worshiping in different languages, or have challenging opportunities to show people kindness even when they display what I consider to be rudeness or dismissiveness, I feel the presence of God. When I travel by bus, train and plane, make it safely to an unknown destination, and return to my temporary home each night after exploring, I give thanks that God has protected and guided me in this way.
I see travel as an opportunity to share my testimony that we know not where God can and will take us … that humble beginnings do not limit the places we will go … that our stories remain to be told … that God can take a simple “yes, I submit” and turn it into exceeding and abundant blessings. I see travel as an opportunity to share my experiences with others in hopes of inspiring them to know if God did it for me, it can be done for you; that the world is so much bigger than our hometowns, states, or regions; that there is more to see, more to learn, more to share, and more to know :-). In this regard, I know my travel is not solely about taking beautiful pictures and enjoying the pleasure of exploration. But these experiences are also divine assignments when I am continually refined and renewed for service. These experiences allow me to be – on some minute level – an ambassador for Christ. These experiences allow me to learn from others, teach others, and share with others. On this Resurrection Sunday, I am grateful that Christ died and rose for my sins … that he lives and shows his grace and mercy in my life each day … that he uses me to tell others that all things are possible through Christ. For this, I am not only grateful but compelled to serve in every way I can, everywhere I go! I look forward to sharing my adventures from this leg of the journey with you all. And as has been the case thus far, I imagine the next few weeks will bring more than I can ever imagine. Until then … #HeRose