"Lord keep me in your way, so that I will not be in your way."
For a long time I used to live my life for tomorrow. I was always planning what I would be up to next month, next year and a few years from now. Looking back, this robbed me of so much happiness that I could have enjoyed on those days, instead of always living for the next. I am not saying we should not plan, but I think we should not get consumed with planning to the point where we miss the blessings of today.
It becomes even more dangerous to us Christians, because focusing on the long term can easily tempt you to leave Christ out of your planning, thinking you are in control of your future, ending up walking in your own way instead of walking in his way.
This was one of the lessons that God taught me throughout my trip.
Before I travelled I was a girl with a plan. I was not a very content person. I would be content and extremely happy for a season, but soon the feeling would wear of and I would begin to plan and hope for better things.
It was a problem in my life that I never worked out, I was constantly planning what to do next. And going on a trip like this was going to be perfect, because I had planned to spend one month in every town. But my stay in Lusaka taught me to take each day as it comes, because even though we make our own plans to suit ourself, God usually has a different plan that he uses to teach us.
As I wrote before, when I first arrived in Lusaka it was not my most favorite place. The quicker we could move to the next destination the better. So i was already counting days till that one month was over and we would be off. I had groaned and moaned to Jorrit about when we would finally leave.
But things went differently. We ended up staying for a long while, and I eventually learned to love the place.
I believe God used that experience to teach me to be content and happy where I am at that moment. It took me a long time to realise it and it was not easy, but praise God that He can change us if we allow Him to. Where I am right now in my life, I do not see how I would be managing without that lesson. I would have been very anxious and unhappy.
But because of that lesson I am an extremely happy girl, no jokes. I find joy in the little things. I find it ridiculous, but at the same time I am loving it.
I am still learning, by Gods help, to enjoy the little happiness of now, that I would otherwise miss, because I would be so busy planning my next move. It brings even more joy when you know that you are where God wants you to be at that time and to enjoy every minute of it and suck in as much happiness as you can, learning all the lessons you must learn for this moment.
I am glad that I discovered this magic formula: contentment equals happiness. Now, as my brother Jacques likes to say: let's make happiness :).
Friday, July 8, 2011
Holiday of bliss and awesomeness
So, I did not really fulfill my promise of writing more blogs about my trip. And now, after such a long time, things are not so clear in my head anymore and it will be hard to be as descriptive as I would have liked. But a promise is a promise, so here goes.
When I arrived in Malawi, visiting my dearest friend Omega was on top of my list. I first met her in Cape Town years ago, when we both worked at The Big Issue magazine. Miggs became like a big sis to me back then. She used to sit right opposite me at the office and over our desks we shared lots of laughter and good times.
Of course I was very excited that I would be seeing her again, and that I would be staying with her and her husband Wakisa for a week. But I was also a bit nervous, because we had not seen each other for so long and not kept in touch so often. Would we still click like we used to?
When I arrived at the bus stop and she came to pick me up, she was so kind to drop off my bus buddy at her friends place. After that act of kindness I knew my Miggs had not changed :). I was still a bit nervous, but right there someone should have warned me and told me not to waste my time being nervous, but to rather let my hair down and look forward to a holiday of bliss and awesomeness.
As we were driving to their home. We couldn’t stop talking. It was as if she had never left and as if we were back to our spots at the office, chatting away until the office would close.
To cut the long story short, staying with them in their beautiful paradise home, being taken around Blantyre in their posh red car, rubbing shoulders with the who’s who in Malawi, eating at fancy, cozy restaurants, being pampered with manicures and all things lovely was overwhelming for me. But Omega kept repeating the same words over and over and soon enough I obeyed. "Put your legs up and enjoy, you’re on holiday, let your big sis spoil you." And sure I was spoiled!
I loved their home, I loved them and their hospitality was mind blowing. I appreciated it so much that, with my nervousness out of the window, I ended up staying for 3 weeks :).
When I arrived in Malawi, visiting my dearest friend Omega was on top of my list. I first met her in Cape Town years ago, when we both worked at The Big Issue magazine. Miggs became like a big sis to me back then. She used to sit right opposite me at the office and over our desks we shared lots of laughter and good times.
Of course I was very excited that I would be seeing her again, and that I would be staying with her and her husband Wakisa for a week. But I was also a bit nervous, because we had not seen each other for so long and not kept in touch so often. Would we still click like we used to?
When I arrived at the bus stop and she came to pick me up, she was so kind to drop off my bus buddy at her friends place. After that act of kindness I knew my Miggs had not changed :). I was still a bit nervous, but right there someone should have warned me and told me not to waste my time being nervous, but to rather let my hair down and look forward to a holiday of bliss and awesomeness.
As we were driving to their home. We couldn’t stop talking. It was as if she had never left and as if we were back to our spots at the office, chatting away until the office would close.
To cut the long story short, staying with them in their beautiful paradise home, being taken around Blantyre in their posh red car, rubbing shoulders with the who’s who in Malawi, eating at fancy, cozy restaurants, being pampered with manicures and all things lovely was overwhelming for me. But Omega kept repeating the same words over and over and soon enough I obeyed. "Put your legs up and enjoy, you’re on holiday, let your big sis spoil you." And sure I was spoiled!
I loved their home, I loved them and their hospitality was mind blowing. I appreciated it so much that, with my nervousness out of the window, I ended up staying for 3 weeks :).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)