I have this app on my iPod touch (because yes, I still have a dumb phone) called Timehop, and every morning I get a notification that they have made a list of everything I posted on social media that day for the past 5 or 6 years. It's a little scary. Sometimes I don't want to be reminded of things I said in middle school. It's also really cool, because I can see evidence of God working in my life that I have forgotten about.
As I woke up this morning, I saw that Timehop wanted to either encourage me or make me cringe. As I opened the app, I saw that a year ago today, I moved into my apartment and had tweeted "Staying up until 2am with my awesome roomie, Molly, talking about Jesus. Yup. It's going to be a good year." As I kept scrolling, I saw that I had posted on my blog 2 years ago about my gap year, and holy moly you guys, I was nervous. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Not only was I terrified, because for the first time I was moving out of my parents house, but also because I was doing something different.
You see, I was tired of being different. I grew up being homeschooled, and though I loved it, outside of the homeschool community, I felt like I was always defending myself and my family. I was different. I have way more food allergies than most people. Eating outside of my house was really difficult. Eating at friends houses was almost impossible at times. I was different. I have dyslexia and have to work harder and get outside help with school a lot. I was different. By this point in my life, I just wanted to fit in. I wanted to do what people typically do when they graduate. I wanted to be accepted into my dream school, move into my dorm, eat gross dining hall food, get involved in lots of on campus activities, and make tons of friends.
I'm sure God was smiling down at me, shaking his head a little bit saying "Sweetie, I've got something better for you. Stop trying to blend in. That's not how I created you. You're going to do a lot of different things the next couple of years. And that's where I want you."
If you read my blog or have known me for at least 2 years, you know, I don't do normal things. I moved from Clemson to Anderson to live with my grandmother, while trying to get involved with Clemson RUF (because living 30 min away instead of 5 makes sense haha). Then after Christmas, I moved home and started working in Seneca at the Foothills Pregnancy Care Center. Through working there, I really found out the type of things I want to do with my life. Also realized I'm not supposed to go to Clemson, I'm supposed to get my Associates degree from Tri-County. Not exactly something to write home about. I have the funds to go to a prestigious university. Yet, I'm not. I go to a community college. Honestly, you guys, that can be super embarrassing at times.
You see, during my gap year, God opened my eyes to the beauty of following him. Yes, I've been a Christian most of my life, but until I did something majorly different like my gap year, I didn't see the beauty and the goodness of following Him with huge life decisions.
Over the past 2 years, I've kind of developed this saying "You do you." I realize that can be a little "coexist"-y, but hear me out, because it's totally not. Got calls each of us to do different things. My road will look WAY different from your road. And your friend down the street, their road will look likes it's going backwards at times. We are each called to lead very different lives.
Who am I to say that what she did was wrong, just because it's not what God called me to?
What I am doing is not any more right or wrong than what he is doing. We are both just doing what God put in front of us.
It's so easy for us to get caught up in the norm of American life and think when people do something different, it's wrong, simply because we're not used to it. I keep being reminded of 1 Cor. 12, when they talk about the body of Christ.
We're not all supposed to be eyes.
We need arms, hands, legs, feet, mouths, and ears, too!
And that's the beauty of each person following the road He has put before them. Together, we create the whole body.
It's WHOLE.
