Three Hundred Miles South

Just a week ago, I was more than 300 miles south of where I am sitting now.  San Quintín, Mexico is only 300 miles from my house, but it could have been a world away.

I am an American, living in the most privileged percentage of people on the planet.  I live in a two story house that has multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, family room, and backyard.  I have running water with amazing water pressure.  I can stick my toilet paper down the toilet instead of in the trashcan.  We have paved roads.  I don't need to worry about if I'm going to eat.

All that I've listed above and more are some of the major differences between Mexico and the United States.  And one of the major things that it proves to me is that I am so privileged.  Almost to privileged.  And if you are reading this on your own computer in your own house using WiFi, you probably are to.

But one thing I've noticed is that in the United States at least, we aren't happy with life how it is.  I know I am often not, always wanting the latest thing or to be somewhere else.  Because of my privileged life, I keep on grasping for more, never being satisfied.  

What struck me during my Mexico trip though, was not the fact that life was so different there.  It was how they treated that fact. 

From the kids that I played with and the people that I met while on work projects, I never heard complaints about their life.  They were content with where they were, something that I need to learn.

When I returned to the States on Saturday, my first thought was that it was sad that I had to buckle my seat belt again.   However, my next thoughts were about how different life was on each side of the border wall.  

Even while waiting in line at the Tecate border crossing, a stark contrast appeared between the walls that divided the two countries.  One was rich, the other poor.   One was discontent; the other was content.  

Just two sides of a wall.  Just two different mind sets.  Just 300 miles south of my house. 

Life Lessons: Poptarts, Twix Bars, and Peach Rings

Life can teach and remind you of the most ridiculous things with the most ridiculous things.  Today, he used Poptarts, Twix, and peach rings to bring out some really important points.

 

Poptarts:

When you put a Poptart inside a toaster, there is one thing that it must inherently do; pop up once it’s ready.  It won’t come out until it’s the right time.  However, it’s not the Poptart that knows when it’s the right time, it’s the toaster.  

In our lives, God is the toaster; we are the Poptart.  He prepares us each for special purposes, but we can’t rush Him.  We don’t have any control over the when, where, how, and etcetera.   It’s not our timing; it’s His.  And because it is His timing, it is perfect.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie.  If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. ~Habakkuk 2:3

Twix:

Putting cookies, caramel, and milk chocolate together is a winning combination.  It’s also what makes up a Twix bar.  The equation adds up, three tasty foods put together make even tastier food.  That makes perfect sense in cooking, but not always in life.

Life is much different than a Twix bar.  Many times, there are un-enjoyable elements in it.  We may see the ingredients of our life and ask how the outcome can ever be good.  However, when there is bad in the equation, that does not mean that it is ruined.  God directs the outcome, not us; and the “bad” ingredients (namely stuff like broccoli and cauliflower) in the candy bar of life are there to grow us.  We may see the ingredients of our life and ask how the outcome can be good, but the key thing to remember is that God is in charge.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11


Peach Rings:

Peach rings are definitely an interesting thing.  They’re a sweet, chewy candy that’s coated in sugar.  However, the best thing about them is definitely the shape.  When your tongue envelopes this piece of candy, it finds that it is a perfect circle, presenting no end true “end” to it.  These aspects that compose peach rings also apply to a very much more abstract thing, God’s love.

First aspects first, God’s love is very sweet.  It just gives me a thrill to even begin thinking about it!  He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins.  This gesture itself demonstrates His great love; and although His death was very sad, it also was very sweet.  

Another shared aspect of peach rings and God’s love is chewiness.  This may sounds strange to say that God’s love is “chewy”, but what I mean by this is that it is very forgiving.  Chewy candies are extremely forgiving to the shape of one’s mouth.  They do not slice or crack like hard candies are prone to do.  

The last aspect that God’s love and peach rings share is the being of a perfect circle.  God’s love will never end.  Even if you mess up so bad that nobody else in the world will accept you, God will because his love is unending.

See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.  The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ~1 John 3:1

Alright With Okay

How many times have we heard, "it's alright, you did your best?"  How many times do we use that simple excuse to be complacent, to be alright with okay?

But what if we didn't try our best?  What if we didn't give it our all?  Is it then still fine to be happy with where we are?  Why do we strive so hard in somethings, but we exercise minimal effort with what truly matters?

Complacency leads to nowhere.  You stay where you are.  It's like running on a hamster wheel, exerting so much energy, yet not moving an inch.  Would this energy be better used elsewhere instead of feeding the nothingness of complacency?  Imagine if the hamster wheel was attached to a light bulb so that the energy exerted on the wheel could power it?  This would be so much more useful.  

Okay means average, but intertwined in average is the ability to be above-average.  And for this very reason, okay should not be okay.  No one should be alright with okay.  God gave us a purpose in life, and being alright with okay, is not alright.  Never.

Hold My Heart: The Necessary Answer

One tear in the dropping rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

These lyrics come from the song "Hold My Heart" by Tenth Avenue North.  Honestly, these four simple lines can seem quite dismal and depressing.  They don't need to be.  Simple and stark, they seem to be exactly as they appear.  However, these lyrics leave a question lingering in the air.

One tear in the dropping rain

A tear in rain seems just like another droplet of water, so unnoticed, so inconsequential...

One voice in a sea of pain

When the waves crash, it is deafening.  When a human speaks, it is barely audible.  In the ocean roar, a single voice can seem so lost, so unimportant...

Could the Maker of the stars

This God, the Creator of everything...

Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

To some, it's just another crack in a million.  To others, it's THEIR heart that's ripped to shreds.

The answer to this question is simple, stark, and true.  It is love, unyielding and unbending.  The Maker of the stars, MY God, the Creator of everything, does care about the sound of my breaking heart.  He cares about the sound of YOUR breaking heart.  Every tear in the dropping rain, every voice in the sea of pain is noticed by him.  They are seen; they are heard; and they are remedied through His love.