Life's a Voyage

I've often heard life be compared to a journey. It's about the actual commute, not the destination. Blah blah blah. Sure the journey is fun too, but nothing beats the final prize. The destination. The goal. The reason one spent countless time and money to leave point A and reach point B. Now I'm not trying to be pessimistic; I've just found a better analogy. 

Tonight I was driving and I was listening to the new Amanda Cook Album (A Brave New World) and her song The Voyage came on. I started thinking what if life is actually more like a voyage? As I drove through the pelting rain and squinted through the glaring headlights of oncoming traffic, the Holy Spirit began to unravel this analogy in my head. Here's my best go at explaining it how I understood it. 

Life is a voyage. Like a big boat ride. You've got people around you also on the same trip, but their experiences will be different than yours. There will be rainy days and you will get wet. There will be sunny days and you will get burnt. The air is a salty, fishy reminder of where you are (at sea) and the knowledge that you were created for something different: land. 

The boat is constantly moving, rocking, tipping even. Some people might fall off or jump to other boats, getting really wet in the process. They might even die from the damage caused from leaving the voyage God put them on. But even with the instability of the waves, if your feet stay planted and you hold on, you won't go anywhere you don't want to go. 

Life is a voyage. So much more than a journey. So take some Dramamine and know that God is the one driving the ship. 

Perspective of pride

      We are six weeks into the school year and some days I find I'm still struggling to find my groove. Morning meeting will probably always be dreaded by me but my kids love it and it does provide a better sense of community. 

Personally I've been dealing with some major pride issues. Struggling to not just lean on my own strength and what I feel I deserve or can do by myself. It's not about what I'm capable of but rather what God has equipped me to do. I'm beyond blessed with the ability to teach. I love my job and I have so much fun every day but sometimes I let my lack of care restrict my growth of relationships. 

I'll be honest. I idolize my job. It's my identity and my purpose.i know I'm called to teach but I'm also called to serve Christ not serve myself.  It shouldn't be this way. I realized this fact last Sunday when I told two of my dearest friends that I'll always come back to Philly (I've been traveling on my weekends) because I love my job so much. Hold up. My job? Really. Two amazing friends had to hear me say I prefer what gives me satisfaction in task over them. I didn't intend to mean it that way, and it was a definite smack in the face emotionally when I realized what I said and why I said it. 

So how can I be more intentional about relationships? Not by myself that's for sure. I need God's help and that's exactly where He tends to push me. Right into places where I need him. I need His patience to listen when I don't care because he cares. I need his love to show compassion when I don't care. I need his grace to show forgiveness when I don't care. I don't mean to sound like a bitch but I kinda have been and at the root of me tend to be at times. And that is NOT ok. 

When I was in Ireland I was so challenged by the people there. I grew so much in my willingness to show love to others and now I feel as though I've shrunk back some. Now that I'm aware of that I can pray, adjust, and move forward. Here's to loving people well regardless if i care or not because Jesus cares and I want to be less like me (cause I suck) and more like Him because he's amazing.