Alive

I have been on countless mission trips and there’s always a part of me that wants to know that I’m making a difference, there’s a part of me that wants something to show for my efforts, something that I can measure and say, “see – this is what I’ve been DOING!! (with a smile on my face of course).” I have found that I tend to struggle with wanting to “do” something instead of simply being present, with myself, with others, and with time. I believe this season of my life is truly about me learning to BE in the moment. Although there’s a part of me that will always want to know that what I’m doing is helping someone, I’m learning that it’s not about what I can see, do, or achieve, but about being present with another being. Life is truly made up of moments, and the sense of aliveness that can be felt when two people are truly experiencing a moment together without any concern of the past or the future is a moment that brings forth the essence of life.

I have had so many moments over the past couple of weeks here in the community of Capricorn, South Africa, where I have felt the essence of God and they haven’t come from times of formal worship or prayer, from straining or is it striving to hear His voice, bur rather I have experienced His essence in shacks, in hospital waiting rooms, in tears, in painting, and even in car rides. I have seen aliveness in these moments and at times I’ve even had the privilege of capturing these encounters of life with my camera. These are the moments of aliveness, these are the moments of connection, and these are the moments that remind me of what it means to truly be alive.