“I’m leaving, on a jet plane…”
Okay, well not so much a jet plane, more like a black mini-van… but I’m leaving none the less. Yep, tomorrow, two girlfriends and I are takin a road trip. We’re driving around 8 hours to attend a luncheon on Saturday, then driving home.
Some may say this is crazy, I say it’s all part of the adventure God calls us to at times.
Back in January, I received a simple email. The words so casually and curtiously drew my attention as it was an invitation to have lunch with one of my heroes in the faith. A wife, a mother of 5, an author, a speaker, and a leader of women, Lysa TerKeurst. She’s writing a new book and she wanted to invite some “friends” for a little brainstorming session. And the shy middle-school girl in me squealed, and silently whispered, “me, me, I want to!” And then the practical Mom in me straightened up and maturely said, “well, check your schedule and of course with the hubbie.” And then practical Martha started to square her shoulders, “How frivolous of an expenditure just for yourself Heather.” And after I gave each thought a short audience, I turned to my audience of One and said, “What would YOU have Lord?”
And in that moment, I sensed I was to contact my roadie and see if she was “in”. After a few short days, a hotel was booked, done deal!
And now it’s the night before, and most of me is excited, and part of me is dragging her feet. What am I doing? Wouldn’t it be so much easier just to stay put, to sleep in tomorrow and veg out in pajamas all day with kiddos, watching hours of March Madness games? This week has been jammed packed, am I really going to sit behind the wheel of a car for 16 hours over the course of 2 days? And my answer is a resounding “YES!!” Not necessarily that I have to, but that I GET to!
I GET to say “yes” to God and trust…
Trust that Aaron and the kids are going to have a fabulous 2 days together. They do “special” things when Mom is not around. By actually getting out the way, these special memories can be created.
Trust that God will protect our trip, guide our path, go before us, and follow behind us, no matter what may transpire.
Trust that God is creating space for three friends to grow closer together (I suppose hours on end will do that!)
Trust that God will continue to provide as He asks us to be a part of this gathering.
Trust that the women who gather are meeting together for “such a time as this” so that His work may be glorified, and His message may be carried to the hearts of those far from Him.
Trust that His will be done over the next 48 hours, no matter what that may be.
To be able to say “yes” in peace, and to be able to say “no” in peace (on a daily basis), is what He has been teaching me over and over the past few years. It takes practice. It takes patience. It takes persistence. And the reward is peace, a sense of freedom in daily decision-making that has transformed my life. I said “yes” back in January. Just yesterday I received a blog post in my inbox, written by Lysa…
The decisions we make, make the life we live. So if we want to live better, we’ve got to decide better. Yes. No. The two most powerful words in the English language. They can run us if we don’t intentionally run them. Guard them. Guide them. Use yes and no to work for us. Can you imagine how great life would be if you didn’t dread saying yes and felt completely and unapologetically empowered to say no? Then and only then will our best selves emerge.
And I sense my Heavenly Father smiling a sovereign smile, and my heart lights up. And I realize He is constantly connecting us, constantly teaching, constantly revealing, and this is one of the good parts. The parts when a child realizes that they are loved beyond words, when “good plans” written about are given a glimpse. And though I have no idea what will transpire this weekend, I KNOW He would have this for me. And for each one of the women he is gathering together. And the thought that I GET to be part of His plan and purpose, that I am given the opportunity to glorify His name and speak about His works brings me joy like nothing else can.
We GET to be part of this adventure called life, the “I get it!” moments I “get” to see on students faces each day it but a glimpse of the joy we each bring to our heavenly Father when we realize just how much He loves us. And if we think about this “joy” that He gifts us today, how much more so will our eternity of joy fill us with the hope that could be lacking today.
I pray you enjoy a wonderful weekend, and possibly Spring Break, with your families! May you find a moment to glorify Him today, especially as we approach this fast-coming Easter season. God Bless!
Filed under: road trip
