This Beautiful Life

     Happy Autumn Equinox (at least, for those of you in the northern hemisphere)! It's pouring here, which is fine by me because I love the rain and it will cool things down, at last. Some of the trees here are starting to turn and I am immensely excited for it. It's also officially a month until my birthday! I've had mixed feelings about it all year because I'll be turning twenty. I know it's just an age and I already had my crisis of adulthood when I turned eighteen but it's weird to think that I'll no longer be a teenager. I remember being so excited when I turned thirteen and I don't feel the same excitement to leave my teenage years but I'm actually excited to celebrate. I spent a long time living in insecurity in regard to myself and though I still have my moments, I'm glad to have an excuse to spend time with friends and to have fun. I'm planning on going to a renaissance festival this year, something I've always wanted to do, and a friend (who also has a birthday in October) are trying to plan a twenties theme murder mystery party which I am really looking forward to. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it's that people need people and joy is a choice. I don't want to take anything for granted because things can be taken away so easily, things that I never considered, like being able to go to church, to smile at babies in grocery stores, to visit with people. I talk a lot about intentionality on here, I know, but that's how I want to live. It's something I want to be better at.  

    What does it mean to live with intentionality? I can only give speculations and observations because I feel like I have to much to learn on this subject. Often, the thought doesn't even cross my mind to make the most out of a moment. I don't think to take advantage of even an hour of time and dedicate it to something I love; I'm so focused on the next thing. I don't know that many people know how to slow down, in this day and age. Everything moves so quickly and we all just want to do our best to keep up. We've invented this thing called boredom when there is so much that can hold our attention and while we cannot take advantage of everything, I think we are capable of so much more than just the day-to-day. And maybe this is just my wanderlust talking but I think there is merit to going out, buying a cups of tea at a café, taking walks on nature trails, wandering through a city, or even laying in your backyard and watching the stars. In the confines of my house, it's easy to do what I've always done because it's familiar and comfortable. While there are good things in this and things that I do love, I want to do as much as I can. I want to fall in love with the little things, the slow days. I'm sick and tired of feeling bored when I don't have to be. This world we've been given is vast and beautiful and I want to live in it, not simply survive until I reach the point where I'm happy, because life doesn't work like that. No one can make the most out of this life for me.

    I believe that we were created with purpose and intention. I believe that our curiosity and imagination are reflections of our Creator. I think I've shared Romans 12:1 here before but it's something I've been trying to live out better than I have been. "Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God's mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure: this is your reasonable, essential worship." As a Christian, I believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth to die in our stead because of all the wrongs humanity has committed from the moment Adam ate the fruit in the garden of Eden until God creates a new heaven and earth where there is no more sin. That is a burden greater than any of us can imagine and something we will never be worthy of. He did it because of His abundant love for us. Hosea 2 describes God as a jealous husband for a people that have committed adultery against Him. But no matter what we do, no matter how often we turn our back on Him, God will keep coming after us. He wants nothing more than to restore us to relationship with Him. We were created to be with God, not simply to play a part in His scheme. I want to live my life in a way that reflects that. I want love to overflow from my life, to spill over into my actions and relationships. That's another thing that doesn't come by accident. It's impossible

    Hosea describes our relationship with God to be like a marriage. In the new testament, we see that theme continue. In a marriage, you want honesty, devotion, and commitment. And for that, you have to work hard and make sacrifices. Communication takes intentionality and sometimes love does too. These are choices you make in order for that relationship to work and that's how I want to live my life. I want to be honest with myself and with those around me. I want to be devoted to my craft and to my faith. I want to be committed to this life and to everything that I do, as well as to the people around me. I want to live in such a way that it is holy and pleasing, striving to be worthy of the price paid for me. We can never pay God back for the mercy bestowed on us, but that's the beautiful thing about grace; we don't have to. It's given out of love, not out of a bargain, and I believe it's worthy of my surrender. In James 1, it says this: "My dearly loved brothers and sisters, don’t be misled. Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows. We have a special role in His plan. He calls us to life by His message of truth so that we will show the rest of His creatures His goodness and love."

    We were given such a beautiful life to live, full of opportunity. Though I may not be worthy of it, and the mercy shown, I hope that my life reflects the light of my Author and Creator and that one day I'm able to bring glory to Him in all that I do. I want to live each day with joy and thanksgiving, to do everything with excellence. I want to live this beautiful life, to take advantage of the purpose I have and live life to it's fullest. I hope you do too, because it's not impossible and you have the same Creator I do. God has a plan for your life, where you'll go and who you'll meet, the things that you love and do. You are loved more than you could ever realize. Love, and don't be afraid. 

Yours Truly,

Rey