"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Life in the sand

As time is passing here at L.P (week four out of nine is over) I am learning a lot. I am coming to realize just how good we really have it. Working at McDonalds is a wonderfully humbling experience. It's a job that not many people would ever want to have, yet at the same time the only job many people do and ever will have. Also, the fact that almost nobody hear even knows what Auburn is humbles me greatly, strongly reinforcing my realization after first semester that it's not about being the perfect Auburn man; pursing the top SGA cabinet positions, the perfect fraternity or sorority, making the perfect grades, it's about being a man who is running with everything in his being after God, it's about straining to have more of him and less of myself.
One thing that goes hand in hand with this realization is my realization of who I feel like God has created me to be, living in him fully. Romans 11:29 says, "For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." To me, this means laying down my gifts of leadership, acceptance of new situations, people skills, service, laying them all down at his feet because I would not even have them without him so desiring me to. So, I've been asking, how? I know the answer. Missions. When I am in the mission field is when I feel the most complete. I am living at all times fully for Christ. I am starting to feel more and more that I am called to live my life as a missionary. I contacted MTW (missions to the word PCA organization) four days ago and have an interview today for an internship in Peru this next summer. It is all happening so quickly and smoothly it has to be providential. Today, I am fasting because it is a day of pagan festivals and worship in Peru. The MTW missionaries annually face spiritual attacks this day and while I am not in Peru with them, my heart is. So, as I go a mere 24 hours without food I can't help but think of Gideon, Rildo, Vlady, Erwin, Michael, Aldo, and all the other boys in Peru who went multiple days with nothing but glue to sniff for their "food" and it absolutely breaks my heart and makes me all the more motivated to return to Peru. I am hoping to be able to do so soon. So as the day go goes on, let my hunger be a constant reminder of the struggles of those in Peru today.
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