Weltanschauung

Good evening World!

In an attempt to procrastinate grading for a bit longer, it’s time for another update.  Usually I have some pre-determined thought on which to expound, but tonight that is not the case.  I simply want to share a bit of the clutter that is on my heart—I’ll do my best to create a path in which you can follow and not get lost, but best to leave a bread-crumb trail to find your way back out…

God continues to astound me.  The purpose for my Mexico Adventure is taking shape, and I am humbled by the task.  I believe God has brought me to Mexico for one specific person; this isn’t to say that God is not using me in the lives other others, but He has focused my sights on one individual specifically—I’m going to call this person Purpose.  Those who know me can explicate that I am a smart-ass (just like my father), and that I get at the heart of issues rather quickly (and humorously).  God has given me a particular boldness in my relationship with Purpose, and I have not shied away from difficult subjects such as religion as sometimes I am inclined to do.  I feel an urgency, and not just because I only have 122 days, 17 hours, and 28 minutes left until the end of the school year (but who’s counting?).  God has placed Purpose on my heart in such an intense fashion that it cannot be ignored.  Without going into specific details, Purpose is in the midst of an enormous life-change, and God is using this change to speak to Purpose, and for some crazy reason God has chosen to include me in this process.  It’s scary, exciting, and extremely humbling.

God continues to encourage me.  After a somewhat stressful day last week, I was signing out at school and found a notecard in my mailbox.  This note expressed kind words about my personality and a reference to James 1:2-4.  The fact that someone took the time to write a few kind words completely made my day.  And this evening I received a post on my FB page from a friend at my old school.  She expressed that people (teachers, parents, AND students) keep asking her if I am going to return next year.  Words cannot express how meaningful a note like that is to me; to know that I have made such an impact in the past that continues to ripple into the future makes my heart smile. 

God continues to shape me.  My time in Mexico is forcing me to examine my belief system and my understanding of how the world works.  In so many ways my life is the same as it was in the US—I go to work, I go to the grocery store for food and other necessities, I interact with people, and I spend WAY too much time online!  Yet with all these similarities, I feel my world view, my “Weltanschauung” according to Mr. Burnett’s World History class, is drastically shifting.  I’ve been fortunate to converse with Mexican Nationals and learn about their perspective on what is happening in their country.  In turn, I have had to learn how to articulate my thoughts and beliefs of the US and the world, and God and religion.  So much of my life has been spent spouting the beliefs and political ideals of my parents, but at the age of 27 (almost 28), saying I believe something because my parents said it was correct just doesn’t hold credit anymore.

God continues to excite me.  In a recent conversation with a friend, she asked me if I was scared about my future since I don’t really know what I will be doing after this school year.  Yes, I am a bit scared, but more than that, I’m excited.  I’m excited about Spring Break; in about 24 days, 13 hours, and 27 minutes (but again, who’s counting?) I will be embarking on an epic adventure to Kenya, and this seriously excites me.  My mom just emailed me the flight confirmation today!  To even have the opportunity to participate in something like this blows my mind.  People may view me as the adventurous type, but I am not!  I am quite happy to hide away in my room and read and stream movies online.  But God builds up such an excitement in me to try new adventures that I just cannot say no.  I am excited about what God will bring my way after this year in Mexico.  Perhaps I will return to Colorado and reunite with all of my friends there—a REALLY exciting and encouraging thought!  Or perhaps I will be called away to do something else.  The only certainty I have is that God is completely and utterly in control of my life; the Creator of the universe and all life has my future in His hands—if that isn’t exciting, I don’t know what is!

These are just a few ramblings on what’s going on in my heart.  I hope you didn’t get too lost and that you’ll be able to find your way home ok.  If you run into an edible-looking house with a strange woman offering you free food if only you’ll peer into her oven, you’ve gone too far.  Best of luck getting out of that one!  Until next time, I wish you many blessings and the sight to recognize them.