I am too often tempted to filter the things I say and experiences I am walking through depending on the settings in which I am in or people to which I am broadcasting to. But today I decided to just be raw because sometimes the ugly is refreshing. I have been feeling a bit kicked off the path lately for no apparent reason and writing always brings me joy so here I am. As I took a walk at sunset last week, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the realization that too often in life I am running through at 100 mph, completely missing the beauty around me. I say that I want to be someone who is interruptible but let’s be honest, how often am I actually moving slow enough to even be interrupted? This is one (of many) qualms I have with the Western way of living. Are hard work and determination and grit bad things? Well, no. But a good thing can turn into a rotten thing within an instant when it is not in its proper position.

Let’s consider fire. It brings warmth and heat to survive in the winter months and cold climates. It is what the sun is made up of, meaning our entire planet would simply not exist without it. Fire brings people together to sing and dance and enjoy sweet friends. BUT, fire outside of the environment that it was intended for is deathly. It demolishes our forest ecosystems, runs rampant through towns displacing people as it goes. It can destroy limbs and bodies and families and homes. Fire must remain within the context of which it was created for. I can assure you I was not the person to come up with this analogy, but it is one I must continually preach to my soul. My fire is performing. I adored performing in high school and college athletics and I love working hard to perform in the classroom. I strive to perform in relationships through being a good friend, daughter, sister, leader, fill in the blank. I long to perform in my communities through making an impact for the kingdom of God. But when this concept of constantly performing hops onto the throne of my heart (displacing the one who even allows me to do all these things in the first place), it quickly scorches everything in its path.

I find myself starting to believe that I am the one actually doing something, when in reality I have absolutely nothing to offer if it weren’t for my Lord creating me and offering me His daily bread. Also, how freeing this is to know that I don’t have to muster up the strength and motivation out of my own accord since the Creator of the entire universe is on my team and working inside of me. We can be proud of fulfilling the potential that God has put inside of us, but I am trying to challenge myself to not let this meld into a life centered around incessant striving rather than unwavering trust.

So, this is me bringing to light something that I can guarantee not only Christians struggle with, but people from all walks of faith, cultures, and ways of life. Speaking from experience, operating with the sole purpose of doing what you were uniquely put on this Earth to do is worlds more fulfilling than running around attempting to please everyone around you. For Christians, that means loving God, loving others, and making disciples. The way in which people do this of course looks different because every person is truly one of a kind and possesses specific gifts and passions. I personally feel uniquely put on the Earth to go to all nations and learn other cultures and be a midwife and pour into my family and write and I will stop there because you get the point. Some love through avenues such as music or hosting or dancing or teaching, you name it.

So… what were YOU uniquely placed on this Earth to do? Yeah you. Sitting in your pajamas or at your desk at work or driving in your car (first of all get off your phone before you wreck) or taking a study break from your homework. I would just love to be sitting with you asking you this question in person because I legitimately adore hearing other people’s stories, so anyone who would like to share their answer I beg you do not hesitate to reach out. And the cool thing about a dynamic God is that He continually molds our callings as we go in order to demonstrate that they aren’t about us, but HIM.

One thing I know is that I sure do love the One I get to call a forever Friend, and I have a feeling He loves when His children stop striving so much to the point that they forget He is the one filling the cups. So today I would ask those reading this to not only hold me accountable for resting in the arms of my Savior, but also walk alongside me and challenge yourself to do the same. I decided to force myself to stop and pause this week at various points throughout the day and here are a few things that I got the joy of experiencing.

• The birds. Like holy cow there are creatures whose aerodynamics allow them to defy gravity and soar across the Earth
• The opportunity to learn how life is created. I am not going to go into it because many do not care to know the details of fetal development and growth, but just trust me when I tell you, your life is truly a miracle
• The trees and leaves, how each and every one has a different pattern and beauty to it. Also contemplate for two seconds how the substance that trees give off is the exact substance we, humans, must have to survive. I mean you just can’t make this stuff up
• The opportunity to walk alongside friends who have journeyed through similar paths and the comfortability with brothers and sisters in Christ to be completely transparent through the good and bad. This is a true gift
• The vastness of the city lights displayed in front of a painted sky, considering how many people are within a mile of you, each one having a completely different experience at any given time
• Tears. I can’t really put this one into words, but crying is a magical piece of the human experience
• Looking into the eyes of someone you love. The way that it is nearly impossible to keep from smiling upon realizing that deep within those little black circles is a tender soul that God is allowing me to be connected to
• The variety of musical notes that can trigger a memory or emotion within an instant, causing you to breathe or sway or close your eyes or raise your hands. And just for a split second, it’s as if you can see your thoughts disappear and an entire new part of your brain take over
• The innocence of children playing and laughing and hugging and running around. Oh, how I long to have an imagination and joy as real as the kiddos in my life

Well friends, I hope you have a fabulous week and that your mind, body, heart, and soul take just a few moments a day to stop and notice. To dwell in the One who loves us so much more than we could ever even imagine. The One who places people and nature and smells and gifts along our paths if we would just have the courage to open our eyes.