faith for the journey

Think about this-You're getting ready for a trip.  Planning excursions.  Booking your tickets.  Boarding a plane, train, or a car.  But you can't forget the packing.  Packing.  Why is something like that so difficult?  We get so caught up in the packing that we lose sight of what's on the other side.  What is to come.  What the journey will be like.  Who we will meet.  What it will be like.  We can't dream because we get so overloaded and bogged down by the things to get done before.  Or at least I have.  A lot.  Speaking from experience, preparing for this move to attend seminary, I have gotten so overwhelmed by packing that I have lost track of what I am doing.  My mind can't dream and be excited and look forward to what is to come, because I have gotten so consumed by the mess that I have created in my little apartment.  I wonder if this relates to other areas of our life.  We all have a lot to do.  Families that need us, friends that need our advice, bills that need to be paid, work that needs to be done, meals that need to be prepared.  It's hard to find time for ourselves.  I was reminded today while working that life is so very fragile.  I looked into the eyes of a frightened 8-year old little girl who was getting stitches.  In her eyes I saw fear.  In her eyes I saw tears.  In her eyes I saw inside my own heart, if you will.  I realized in that moment that nothing else mattered.  The packing, health concerns, school nerves, moving fears; all of that ceased while looking into those young eyes.  I guess I've never been hit quite like that before.  I'm sure we've all had those moments in life that tend to "hit us like a ton of bricks" and leave us stopped dead in our tracks.  It's so crazy.  It's humbling.  In that one moment, that little girl needed me more than anything.  Wow-I just can't imagine providing that kind of service to someone.  Why me?  How did I get in this position, I thought?  But then I finally stopped asking the questions and stopped pondering how I got here working as a Certified Child Life Specialist and gave the praise and glory to the One who deserves it most.  I have been so tremendously blessed and I am not worthy of any of it, that's for sure. 

"It's been a long road, getting from there to here.  It's been a long time, but my time is finally here.  I can feel a change in the wind right now and nothing's in my way because I've got faith of the heart, faith to believe that I can do anything." 

It's no coincidence that the song Faith of the Heart just played on my iTunes while writing this.  I may be scared about what is to come, but I am so totally at peace at the same time.  I have faith.  My life is unfolding before my eyes and when I look back I am amazed at God's Hand present in every moment, in every way.  I've had my share of good and bad times like many of you reading this.  I've felt discouragement, stress, anger, hopelessness, and most of all happiness.  I have a wonderful support system and I know that God is leading me to do His will and for that I am so excited.  May you wake up each morning ready to step out on faith.  May you smile in the face of pain and hardship and think for just a moment about your future and what is to come.  May you always enjoy each and every moment because life really does move quickly.