Volume 11: Rest in the Uncomfort
Texting any and every contact we can find...
Emailing professors and organization leaders for a second time...
Stopping strangers as they walk by the table...
Walking around "lost" on a campus and asking students for direction...
Going into an empty Wesley house and looking for someone to talk to...
Inserting ourselves into conversation at BCM...
Making an announcement for the KA chapter at Georgia Southern...
Sitting in a professors office, attempting to sell our internship opportunities...
Showing up at the RUF meeting and being denied an announcement yet remaining in the back corner...
Sneaking into the freshmen dorms and leaving stickers all around...
Working as a recruiter for Camp Ozark sure will strip you of all comforts and securities...
That's just a general list of the things we did this week that stretched me outside of my comfort zone. I am well aware that I am a human that is driven by comfort. I grew up in a small, tight-knit community, went to the same school from K5 to senior year, and dive deep into friendships to feel safe.
But when I'm on the road, I am pushed to do things I would never choose to do in a million years!!!! Yet, I am thankful. I am thankful for the opportunities to make connections with strangers and try new things.
I am thankful to meet Albert, who is the director of Wesley and is in his first year of leading the ministry. He is struggling but continuing to push forwards, as he is excited to see what the Lord will do.
I am thankful to meet Carrie, the VP of career life at Mercer, who is a graduate of MS State so was familiar with Camp Ozark.
I am thankful to meet Don, the president of KA, who was kind enough to come by the table to get more information about camp to pass it on to his members.
I am thankful to meet Professor Black, who has been a part of the media department for years, shown by his office full of the most random pictures, books, and toys. In the midst of a crazy day, he took time to talk with us and show us around the different buildings of their major.
In the midst of all of the uncomfortable moments, this week was special because I was home, in Macon, GA. And there's a lot of good in being home - feeling safe in my Dad's house and the town I grew up in. After a long day of trying to get something going for work, I was able to return to a place of most comfort.
And you know, at the end of the day, I think that's what God intended our lives to be. He never called us to live comfortable, safe lives. I bet touching lepers, talking to Samaritans, befriending tax collectors and everything else Jesus did was a lot more uncomfortable than handing out flyers, asking people to interview for a summer camp...
Jesus was able to confidently do all of these actions because he had full trust in His Father. And Jesus's confidence and boldness was contagious to those who followed him.
In the grand scheme of things, all of the parts of this job are only a stepping stone to the greater moments of uncomfort. May I lean into them, growing in my ability to love the people around me and see strangers as God does. And know that I always have Jesus with me, and He is the ultimate provider of safety and comfort - more than any house or city can be.
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On this Sabbath, may we rest like Sadie. Not a fear or worry or care in the world. Just a good dog, in the safety of her home, with her owner in the room. That is some deep rest right there!
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