Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A Beautiful Exchange

Why do I sometimes get worn out? I think this is obviously a natural feeling.

My passion is working with people who feel misplaced, people who need someone to talk to, someone who will listen. My passion is relating to international people, students, and their families. People who have come from far away places, to learn new and exciting things, and have no idea what journey they are about to embark on.

Many people are pretenders. I am. Many are looking around, trying to find acceptance. Many look to material things. But who am I? I often times do the very same thing.

This past year of my life has been very memorable, yet so much of it I have forgotten, both unintentionally and intentionally. My experiences have impacted much of who I am.

Thinking back, the only motivation that kept me going was my ability to cling to faith, to truth, and to simply drown myself in the very nature of God; His unmerited grace and perfect love.

I had never felt such a need for healing. I had never felt such a need for His grace. I had never desperately longed for restoration and freedom.

But I knew, that amidst the pain, the heartache, the disgust, the guilt, the shame, the emotional ups and downs; I knew Jesus died. I knew that truth. That is the truth that I held onto. He died. It was finished long ago.

One morning last fall, as I was walking to my 10am class, an older woman was walking about 15 paces behind me in the parking lot. We made eye contact and I said a friendly hello, then after walking a few more seconds, I felt a tug in my heart to talk to her, so I decided to, assuming she walking to her class too (she had a backpack). I slowed down my pace, turned around, and started a conversation with her about the weather. We then got into the topics of school and work. I found out she was a retired school teacher. Her name was Suzanne. We then started talking about what she was involved with at NKU. She told me she was Buddhist, and part of a Buddhist group on the campus for students. She invited me to their meeting, and we got on the elevator together. As I got off on my floor, we exchanged names, then she told me as I walked away, "It was so nice talking to you Maria. You made my walk this morning exciting."

This touched my heart deeply! In so many ways. She was sincere with her words, that's what made my heart melt.

It's in moments like these when I am most thankful for the spirit of God living in me. I know that is what made her excited. Christ in me. She was walking to her class that morning with a little piece of Christ. How could she not be excited? Her normal, mundane, morning walk to class was interrupted by the Creator of her world, the lover of her heart, her Father, her Savior and Redeemer. How could she not be filled with joy? How could she not desire more conversation, to walk more, relate more, want more? She needs Christ, her heart wants and desires Him. Her heart was created for relationship with Him.

It's a beautiful exchange.  And a joyous occasion to take part in.

3 comments:

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    1. yeah buh :) just now learning to hit "reply" instead of comment hahah

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