Encounter

The past week I have had a single prayer, a prayer to encounter.  I work for a ministry, yet day after day I would go to work allowing life to happen to me.   A good friend was talking about how each day she has the decision to be joyful, and recently realized she could change her attitude.  In the same way I have realized that I can bring an expectation to encounter Christ in each situation. It seems simple and obvious, but dozens of times I have shown up to bible study without expectations, and have left unchanged.  The past week I have been blown away.  I knew God was everywhere, but He literally is.  I wake up with excitement, knowing that today I have another chance to encounter Christ.  My expectations have put me on the constant lookout and I have seen the Lord working, continually shaping, healing and challenging me.  I have seen reconciliation in relationships, healing of heart, inspirational depth and passion in others and opportunities for growth.  Again and again I have encountered the deep, personal and passionate love Christ has for me and each day it is life changing.  

AWAKEN

Have you been driving home from a familiar place and arrived at your house without remembering the entire drive? Most accidents happen within five minutes from your house for this very experience. When driving a familiar route your senses are dulled, you don’t have to pay attention because autopilot will navigate you through familiar curves. Since you only see what is expected, the speeding car or group of pedestrians are initially not noticed until its often too late.

The same is true in our lives. We get into routines and can go through entire days on autopilot, only snapping out of it in crisis. Even relationships and conversation become habitual. Although the cruise control is comfortable, it dulls our senses and we miss it, we miss Him. Taste, touch, smell, sight and sound, this is where life is exist, where Christ exists. He lives in emotion, sunsets, raspberries, roses and sandy toes and salty tears. To awaken your senses is to awaken your soul.

Why do I encounter Christ when serving soup at a homeless shelter? When climbing mountains? When vulnerably sharing myself with a new friend? In each situation my routine is broken, auto-pilot off and senses turned on as I enter an unfamiliar place where the outcome is unknown. What will I encounter in the shelter? What will it smell like? Will I respond with compassion or thanksgiving? What will is see among the mountains? Will I slip as I climb the trail? What will the view be like? As I climb will it get colder or warmer? How will my friend respond to my vulnerability? Will cry with me as I share or will I freak them out? The Lord speaks to our senses. When our experiences awaken our senses we can expect to encounter Christ.

So awaken, whether that means experiencing new cultures and climates through travel, tutoring a youth in your city, asking pursuing questions that bring new depth to an old friendship or simply dipping your toes into a river. The Lord is present, always. So awaken and encounter.

dear friends, family, acquaintances and strangers....

I have left my old blog site myjourneythroughnewzealand.blogspot.com because, well, I am no longer in New Zealand. I am currently working as an intern for a non-denominational college ministry at the University of Chattanooga, Tennessee called "The House." I hope you will able to know a little about my life here, my struggles, joys and thoughts. Enjoy. And please, I always love to hear your thoughts and updates so keep the dialog going...