I almost gave in to the drudgery. I almost wrote an entire blog post about how tired I am. Then, in approximately 24 hours, I acquired a horrific sunburn on my upper legs, a hardcore scrape on my right calf and a new lease on life. I'm still tired. Ten teenage, hyper girls in a tent does not add up to a whole lot of sleep (more like a whole lot of late-night karaoke sessions). I'm in pain. Hydrogen peroxide is not a friend of mine at the moment. Neither is burnt skin. Still, there is nothing like adrenaline rushes, the Kenyan countryside and God to refresh and renew my spirit.
I can't say that this rush of newness will last. Chances are by the time Monday morning rolls around, I'll be right back into the mentality of an exhausted, stressed IB students. So, why am I so darn confident? I know that these next couple months will stretch me emotionally, physically and intellectually. I'm confident because I recognize that this existence is a process of ups and downs, of molding and making, chiseling and fixing. That's why Philippians 1:6 is sitting up there. God isn't done with me yet. Even though life can get downright rotten, he will always provide relief (even if it's just an overnight camping trip) and promises to stick with us. I can't think of a more beautiful promise than that of continued renewal and bettering of soul.
Where did this renewal come from? It came from adventure, as it always does. I jumped off a 25 foot bridge into the rushing Tana River. The funny thing about jumping off high things? You can't think about the jump. It has to be an instinctual response. Only then can you enjoy the rush of flying through the air on your way down. I rafted a river with Class Four (I think...) rapids. I floated down minor white water on my back. I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning alternately yell-singing to Avril Lavigne, Bruno Mars and the Backstreet Boys, telling a bedtime story and giggling until my tummy hurt. I became a ninja-hider for the purposes of a round of Sardines.
My joy is simple. It comes from a part of my heart that refuses to believe that the hustle and bustle is all there is to life. It also reminds me that I'm making memories this year that will last much longer than the memories of the bad hair days, the late nights of homework and the stress stress stress of senior year. Unfortunately, I don't have any photographic memories to share with you. Not having a camera severely limits my ability to capture my senior year on film. Which is a bummer because I don't have a cool new profile picture. And yet, life goes on.
I am infinitely grateful at the moment. Even though my legs are killing me at the moment with the combined force of a sunburn and flesh wound, I have a loving and giving Father in heaven who blesses me with so much. I have so much life to live and so many adventures to have. I'm confident in tomorrow, not because there's anything I can do to make sure it works out. Instead, my confidence is founded in the promise that completion is imminent.
So, dear friends who take time out of their day to read my ramblings, smile today! You are dearly loved, by me and by our Savior. If you have a chance, do something adrenaline-inducing today. Drink some tea. Breathe deeply. And dive back into the muck.
"Well, I've never plucked a rooster and I'm not too good at ping pong. And I've never thrown my mashed potaters up against the wall. And I've never kissed a chipmunk and I've never gotten head lice. And I've never been to Boston in the faaaall."
