I Give Up

"What about your hair?!?!" the girls cried as I sat down in a chair, preparing myself to be covered in slime.

"It's just hair" I said. (The thought of an icky, strange colored substance being in my hair hadn't even crossed my mind.)

Many of you know that I'm trying to grow my hair out to donate  it... it just happens that my hair grows slower than a snail working against gravity. If we're going to give our lives to Jesus, that means all of us, even the physical us. If getting covered in slime is going to make kids smile, and remember the ministry and encourage them to come back....then sign me up. If donating my hair means I can't dye it or chemically treat it, then so be it, and if donating blood means that I have to put on a few pounds... then I am game! I am willing to give up* whatever I can.

This week I took the time to fill out the paper work to become an organ donor. I gave up my organs, because I've already surrendered my heart. These donations seem like such small things to give for God, but I think (and hope) that someday my minor actions will be major blessings in the lives of others. 

Perhaps if we prayerfully work towards giving the physical self it may just be easier to start working on giving the deep stuff that tends to trouble our hearts.

I've added "Become an Organ Donor" to my bucket! 

*"Giving up" for me means presenting my physical self as an offering. Giving up, in the sense of losing, but also in the sense of surrendering, and offering things up to God. 

Catch My Drift?

Two weeks ago I bought a brand new kite. 

Tuesday I sat around and waited for wind. 

Wednesday I sat around waiting for wind.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the next week....I waited for wind.

Yesterday mom woke me up with a "Annie it's SO nice out!"
Followed by a "still no wind though"

Two o'clock came around and I saw a leaf move, and then its friends joined in the dance, so I jumped in the car and raced to the park. (I clearly already had my kite in the car ready to go). 

That little bit of wind was all that I needed to see Lightening McQueen soar. 

I was reminded that sometimes we just have to catch a breeze and have faith it will take us where we need to go. Just when we think we're about to do a nose dive, the wind has a tendency to give a little more, providing we give a little slack too. It's up to us how far we want to put ourselves out there. There's a lot of string to work with, but we'll never reach new heights if we stay neatly tied on the ground. 

Here's to reaching new heights, going above and beyond what we consider to be the zones of our comfort, and having faith that with a little direction we'll end up just where we need to be. 

             "If you wait for perfect conditions, 

                             you will never get anything done." ~Ecclesiastes 11:4

                                                             

                                                         May you soar this week. 

A Perfect 10 (year old)

When I was young, I was fearless. Where did it go? Do we see more dangers as we grow older? Do we become more afraid of death the more we live? 

When I was younger I went on almost every ride at amusement parks, I picked up jelly fish, and I never saw death as a consequence to adventure. 

From the age of 11 to the age of 20 I was a pretty fearful individual. I saw death as a real possibility. Hiking to Memel Falls was terrifying, I rarely did anything without first researching it extensively, and I wasn't brave. 

But did you know that we are meant to be courageous? Yep! It's true. 

When I turned twenty I was tired of holding myself back, and missing out on things that looked so darn fun! That was the age I bought plane tickets and flew across the world all by myself. That was the age I started going on adventures in the wilderness of Fredericton. That was the age that I began to have no fear of death. With a great hope, and a future secure, there is nothing to fear. 

Saturday I was faced with one of those questions of "Am I too scared to do this?" and sadly my initial reaction was yes. You see, at the Canada Games Centre there are some pretty nice water slides, and as I  swam in the pool watching everyone else have fun, I knew I had to give one a try. The memory of Tidal Impact 2009 when I missed out on every water slide at Magic Mountain haunted me. I wasn't going to miss out on the much smaller scale water slides before me. Not this time! I had already driven past these water slides and wished to try them, and I didn't want to continue to drive by them living with missed opportunity hanging over my head. So when begged told encouraged by a ten year old,

     "PLEASE come with me!" (If only she knew I was thinking the same thing towards her)

     "You can do it, Annie!"  (If only she knew that's the voice I was trying to find in myself)

I accepted the challenge, but I also didn't hide my fear from her. It's important to be real with kids. She assured me I'd be fine as we climbed each and every step of the towering platform, and I may have muttered, "if I get hurt...." 

So how did I feel after the water slides? I felt such a sense of sense of accomplishment! And I also felt like I'd experienced the worst wedgie of my life. (Next time I'll stick with just the yellow slide). 

I truly realized how important it is to encourage others and for us to rely on one another...even if there is an age difference! 

If you find yourself holding back from adventure, cling to a ten year old. Kids are the bravest people I know. Don't be afraid to voice your fears! Try one thing that slightly scares you! Take small steps....all the way to the top. Don't over do it. I had the encouragement to try the diving board, but you know what? Two out of three isn't bad. So because of the wonderful ten year old I met, I am able to give myself a Perfect 10 for bravery!   

Photo from the Canada Games Centre Website. 

Be Strong and Courageous, 

do not be terrified or discouraged, 

because the Lord is with you where ever you go! 

-Deut 31:6