in no particular order ... or ... are they?
1. Starbucks
2. 3G Network
3. my bed
4. Jeremiah Red from BJ's
5. Drinking said beer with @Justin Williams and @Lance Colwill
6. my family ... and hearing updates about how they are doing
7. LOST
8. Electricty
9. Internet
10. Hot Showers
Things I will not miss ... in a VERY particular order ...
1. Driving
2. I 35
3. the bible belt, i.e. religion
Today is the first day that it actually set in ... I'm leaving for Africa in less than 48 hours. And today was the first day I realized that I would not be in my ordinary routine for the next two weeks. Today is my last day at work, the last guy's night for a couple of weeks, my last time at Panda Express ... It's weird ... I'm only leaving for 2 weeks, but I think there is something inside me that knows that it will stay in Africa ... or even die there.
This is the part of me that I can only describe as that last little "pulling" feeling inside of me that keeps me more in the visible reality than the unseen. It's the thing inside of me that chooses doubt over joy, or ultimately, chooses unbelief over belief. I want this part of me to die. I need this part of me to die. We are told that there are, essentially, two realities. The first reality is simple, it is what you and I see everyday. It is what we touch, taste, smell, and understand. But scripture speaks of a second reality ... a superior reality ... an unseen reality. This is the reality where the "impossible" is the norm ... this is the reality of counterintuition ... the last shall be first, the one who seeks to lose his life shall find it.
This second reality is where our faith is meant to be anchored. When our hearts are anchored in the spiritual reality ... nothing of this world can sway us away from the Father. In fact, when our hearts are anchored in the heavenly places, the Father delights in trusting us with His kingdom and we set ourselves up for increase!
So, what does that have to do with me? I think, hope, pray, believe and expect that in the coming weeks, my heart will no longer be anchored in this inferior reality ... that there has been a fragment of my heart that has been resistant to being plunged into the heavenly realm where it WILL BE CRUCIFIED ... but it must be ... and it will be. So this is me ... seeking to lose my life so that I may find it ... and live it to the fullest!
WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!
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and #11. Stacy Riddell (but that's no shocker, I've been missing her for months)Haha
ReplyDeleteJosh Patterson, I love your heart for everything that is Christ. I hope you go to Africa and die there. Praying for your whole team.<3
PS~ Please, really don't get dead...you know, just in the spiritual sense is ok. :) Love you.
Josh, as one whose heart dwells continuously on a the continent of Africa, I assure you that you will not return whole. As the plane lifts off the tarmac to return you to the US and you feel that pull of gravity push you back into your seat - you will feel a portion of your heart that will leave your chest and remain. You will only feel connected again when you once again touch down on African soil.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you guys that you will be totally and completely moved in such a way that you can never return the same and that the first things you listed will just be a dim memory as to the pleasures you desire.
So thankful that you are walking obedience to go...
Amanda Workman