Two things: first off, I know I tend to start these off with a verse, but I don't know which one I'm going to use yet. In fact, the story that I'm about to tell, I didn't even realize was a blog post until I was halfway done telling an amazing friend of mine (thanks, Melly) about what I thought would be something else entirely. Second, I was going to write another blog first, so be expecting that one coming in the next day or two.
Now that that's settled.....
My life lately has been a bit of a whirlwind. God has been doing a lot in me, through me and around me that's left my head spinnng. On Friday, I started telling a friend of mine about how I'm now in a position where I really feel like I'm sinking into whatever it is God has for me, but it's a good feeling - kinda like Tabayana Beach sand....oh but you don't know about that.
So here's the story I told my friend.
Last year my aunt and I went on a cruise with one of my cousins. We were having a fabulous time and preparing for one of our stops which was to be in Hondouras. I don't know if you have ever been but I was a little nervous at first because all the pictures I had ever seen of Hondouras were of people and their mission trips. So as we're preparing for the coming day, the voice of the captain comes over the loudspeaker (I literally said the voice of the captain; I didn't realize at the time how prophetic that would come to be), "When you get to Hondouras, make sure you get an excursion package to go to one of the other beaches. The one where we dock is called called "the ugly beach" by the locals. I know you won't believe me, but trust me you'll understand when you get there. Get a package." We figured it was a sales pitch but planned to go on an excursion anyway so decided to get an excursion package to a beach called Tabayana.
We dock and the place where we are is gorgeous. There is a steel drum band, lots of shopping and a beautiful picturesque beach off to the side. I'm a little annoyed. "This is the ugly beach? Really? I could have saved my money for shopping and just stayed here!" Then we find the bus tour guide. "Believe me, you don't want to stay here, where we are going is much much better. Let's get on the bus." We get on the bus and go for one of the hardest bus rides of the whole trip. We go through sad villages, poor towns and the road is not very kind to the bus. While I'm hoping the journey is worth it, I can't help but think of what we left behind. (Oh, THAT'S the verse I'm supposed to use! I'll wait for the end....)
Finally and at long last we arrive at Tabayna and oh my word the Voice of the Captain (see what I did there?) was right. He had seen what was ahead of me and told me to go to the right place. Tabayana is Eden beautiful. The sand is like baby powder. You can be covered in it and not feel it. The water is beautifully blue and the sky is amazing. There were less people at this hidden treasure as though it were some big secret. The food was incredible, the water was warm, it was peaceful and serene.
And yet I almost missed it.
Very often in life we are tempted to ignore the Voice of the Captain because we don't know where the Tour Guide of the Holy Spirit is taking us. Sometimes we see what's around us and think, "But it's so pretty here!!! Why would I leave?" Our attitude can often make the journey difficult and sometimes the things we have to endure along the way make the road hard to travel on.
But when we finally reach our destination we get it. We understand that everything was worth it. Truly, as beautiful as the beach was before, by comparison it was ugly. I want my life to be like that. I want to live as though I'm following the Tour Guide to Tabayana. The Captain has been here before. He knows where the journey ends even though I haven't started it yet. Because of that I am going to trust that where He is taking me is bigger and brighter and better than where I am now.
After all....
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to propser you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Until next time...
~Mo
