Do you ever wish that you could just live in your own little world where everything happened just the way you wanted it to happen?
Imagine it: Friends would never live more than one block away... You'd never have to worry about counting points... Waiting to buy a house, find a mate or have children wouldn't happen... Money and budgets were no longer part of your life... And happiness would find you every day...
Wouldn't that be great?! But, alas, we live in an imperfect world where things happen the way they're supposed to-- the way God planned them to be-- and when they're supposed to-- in God's timing. Do you ever find yourself asking Him what the heck is up with His plans and why doesn't He rethink His to be more like yours? I mean is it so much to ask that you'd like to have a social life and money to spend frivilously?!
The way I thought my life would be at the ripe age of 23.5 is SOOO not the way it actually is. If I lived in Jamieland, right now I would be married living in a beautiful home on a large chunk of land on which my dog would be joyfully chasing his tail. My job would cause no stress-- youth would show up to events, ask questions to get to know eachother and God better and I'd be able to stand up for what I want. There would be no suicide, no tears, no arguments... Life would be ideal. But, in Alaskaland, life isn't as great. I'm as single as single can be living in an apartment which is too small to have more than four people over at a time. No dog. No cat. No animals at all. And, of course, DCE work brings stress bounding to levels once thought impossible. I remain spineless when it comes to confrontation, asking for what I want or just saying "no". Our community and church have had one attempted suicide and another successful suicide just this week. One of my youth was in here this afternoon crying about graduation because he's worried that his little brother will fall away from his faith once he goes to college in the fall. And arguments... Arguments are probably the number one source of stress and confusion right now.
Above all, I wish I could be a permanent resident of Jamieland... but would I learn anything about life while living there? Afterall, isn't that the point of life-- to live and love and learn?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, wheneveryou face trials of many kinds,
because you know thtat the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking in anything. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trail, because when
he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised
to those who love him.
Thanks, James, my brother and friend. You wrote it well. Persevere through the bad and the ugly and you'll get to see the ultimate Good and the only Beauty. Say adieu to Jamieland and welcome in, with all its imperfections, this world in which we live. It may be a horrible place now but imagine where we will be once we're finished!
