This is only my second time in Guatemala and my second time leaving North America. This time I am visiting on my own instead of with a group and although there's some challenges that come with travelling alone, I've been thankful for this time. I mean I am not truly alone because I am staying with two other girls, but deciding to visit a country initially alone is definitely a new experience for me.
For the first time in a long time, I feel truly happy and content with where I am in life. When there's joy inside of you, simple moments become joy-filled moments. I've been learning how to enjoy and appreciate my own company and the presence of God. I don't have to be surrounded by people to feel good, I don't have to do be busy to feel better about myself. There's something beautiful that happens when you just start to enjoy and appreciate the simple moments right in front of you. All of a sudden you realize that joy isn't as far off as you thought, and it isn't as hard to find as you belived. The first picture of me in the top left was taken when I was on the roof of the school. I wasn't doing anything specatular or worth documenting, but I felt so good. I looked at the mountains around me and sang and danced and felt so free and light and thankful. There's this temptation to believe that happiness is found in doing more, in spending more, in being around more people. But what if I told you the happiest moments I've experienced have been when I was alone in nature with God, or surrounded by one or two of the people I love most in this world. Happiness isn't found where you think it is. Sometimes you just have to open your eyes and appreciate what's right in front of you. I think being in Guatemala is teaching me that. There's something so calming and healing about being surrounded by nature and greenery and mountains. I look at the mountains and hills and just stand in awe. I just want to soak them in. I could stare at them all day. What if I approached life with that same awe? What if I just stood in awe of this life I've been given instead of worrying about what is coming next? What if I just took time to focus on the beauty right in front of me. My prayer is that thankfulness and joy would exude from me more often. I pray that I can sink deep into the moments right in front of me instead of letting fear take hold. This life is short and it's a sacred thing to be alive. I don't want to miss out on all that God is doing, I want to have a "joie de vivre" that comes from Almighty God. I want a joy that can't be taken away.
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AuthorRecent Brock & Queen's graduate and Third Year Teacher! I love to talk about life, justice and faith. Archives
July 2022
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