Sunday, November 4, 2012

Looking Ahead

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride...
Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?"
For it is not wise to ask such questions...
Consider what God has done.
Who can strengthen what he has made crooked?
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad consider:
God has made the one as well as the other.
Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
--Ecclesiastes 7: 8, 10, 13-14

Getting to know kids in the lobby
at the opening performance of Bunnicula
After spending the past hour driving around Houston--lost as usual, I had a solid amount of time to reflect a bit on the past few weeks.  (I don't know why I keep trying to find new, more efficient ways to get places when all it does is take triple the amount of time and gas, but I digress...).  Anyway, one of the main things that has been on my mind lately is pressing onward.  Running the race God has laid out before me--no turning back!

As I move forward, I haven't forgotten where I've been.  Though difficult at times, I am learning not to get stuck in the things-were-so-much-better-when trap, while still recognizing that I have such incredible roots.  I am so blessed to have attended such a great college, worked at such a fabulous camp, performed in powerful shows, etc.  I love where I've been, and I deeply treasure the relationships I've formed along the way.  And I like to think that part of my present is taking the past with me.  For as Jesus said to the paralytic he healed by the side of the pool,"Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk!"  Jesus could have told him to leave his mat behind, but he has him carry it with him!  As I'm finding a new life here in Houston, I'm finding that it's not so much leaving a place behind,but rather taking it with me in my heart.

Dancing like crazy to some good ol' T Swift at Young Life Club
And, speaking of the present, one of the biggest things God is teaching me at the moment is an awareness of my own brokenness.  For a while, I felt pretty bogged down by the brokenness I saw around me.  After following Steve Smallegan's advice to pray into the brokenness I saw, God then opened my eyes to numerous situations of my own personal brokenness.  I can't say I enjoyed the grand reveal of  Kelsey-Doesn't-Have-It-All-Together Issue 7,000,000,892. Nevertheless, this initially uncomfortable perspective changed everything for the better.  Instead of trying to be Miss Fix-It down here, I'm learning to appreciate where we're at on the way to where we're going.  Nope, my workplace, church, community etc. here aren't perfect... BUT NEITHER AM I.  Kind of takes a load of pressure off.  My job is to surrender my heart to God and to do the task he has set before me.  He's taking care of the big picture.  Good thing, too!  The world is far better off in his hands than mine.  Obviously.

And, I must say, I present is pretty sweet.  Sure, I'm often restless, not always feeling settled, and dreaming wildly of what could be, but there's so much to be enjoyed here!

I am officially a team member of Lamar High School Young Life!  Bring on the clubs, team bonding, football games, pies in the face, deep faith convos meet shallow boy talks, lunches in the cafe, and all sorts of fun!  Tomorrow my friend Christen and I are even leading the next skit series where we will be Russian ballerinas auditioning students for the ballet! 

I have been getting to know lots of amazing people at my church (including Christen!).  There's a great ministry for 20-somethings where there's always something going on--serving meals to the homeless, attending a Greek festival, and volunteering for a marriage conference (to name a few!)

Passing out Halloween candy with Christen Hood!
And even amidst the monotonous emails and too-fancy-for-Kelsey clothes (i.e. they have buttons), there is so much to be enjoyed at work!  Rehearsals for Four Maps to Bethlehem are a blast!  Who wouldn't want to spend their afternoon pretending to be a mom, Jewish pregnant woman, British angel, Southern Shepherd, and Middle Eastern wiseman!?  I've had the opportunity to substitute teach for a couple drama classes--translation: going on dinosaur hunts, playing goofy games, and acting out the 3 Little Pigs with ten year olds.  I'm able to put my artistic abilities to use by making my own coloring pages of our children's shows for "promotional use" while listening to Disney/Jonsi Pandora stations for inspiration ;).  I've spent a Saturday at the zoo introducing our children's theater mascot Taa-Daa the bug to lots of cute kids in their Halloween costume.  I even got to help the Wildlife Center bring in a real screech owl to yesterday's performance of Bunnicula... If you ever catch me complaining, remind me of these things, will you?  No, they don't happen all the time, but they still happen!  And when they do?  Gold, I tell you, gold.

These are just some of the blessings God has brought me in Houston, but I haven't forgotten all of you back home!  I love taking time to pray for all y'all (Colossians 1:3-14!) and the times we're able to connect via phone, internet, snail mail, etc.  I am finding a new-found appreciation for Paul the apostle.  I understand his longing to return to the people he has poured into, but knowing that it is God who has done the work and will continue to work even when he is gone.  I am so proud of all of you--my family and friends who are so committed to your faith and the tasks God has assigned you!  Keep perservering (James 1:2)--God is doing great things, and I'd love to hear more about them!  Write, call, what-have-you!  But even more importantly, let's pray for each other, because I'm realizing that, through Christ, we're really not that far away after all! =)

A Cup of Water

For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. Mark 9:41 ...