Differences

I got to know Stephen over some oysters and white wine. When we talked, it seemed like we have different opinions about a lot of things from church to politics to preparing a barbecue. I didn’t think we would get along because of our differences, but  we both graciously heard each others’ thoughts and humbly considered them. I appreciate Stephen because God taught me a lot through him.

I think about recurring idea of taking more risk and adventure when we hang out… how horrible things don’t necessarily happen when you move across the country by yourself, but God enriches life when we live by faith among uncertainty.

God didn’t make all of us the same for a reason. I need some contrast to my life to inspire me to change and truly appreciate others. I admit I have a difficult time being comfortable around people who are different from me because I am insecure about myself and worry about what people think of me. I’m reading Through Painted Deserts by Don Miller and he has quite a bit to say about this topic. Don reminded me that there is no need to be insecure in the unimportant lies the world tells us. “God wants to bestow three blessings on man: to feed him like birds, dress him like flowers, and befriend him as his confidant.”

Hwy 1 Adventure

Inspired by the guy who sold everything and bought a Lamborghini to drive across the country, I took a little road trip getaway this weekend to socal via Hwy 1. The drive was absolutely gorgeous today. It was my first road trip alone, and to be honest, I was kinda scared to do it because I was afraid of breaking down and getting stranded. I have a tendency to be too fearful, it’s not my best quality.

Part of my route involved Nacimiento-Ferguson Rd, a back road that connects 101 with 1. My car did very well and I didn’t break down. My nerves were calmed as I saw other travelers on the road with me and I really began to enjoy my drive. I passed through the US Army training ground and even saw soldiers in uniform performing training activities. A peek of the Pacific from the summit:

The final reward came when I reached the coast: miles and miles of pavement along the big blue ocean.

The slower but infinitely more beautiful route made the hours pass by so quickly. Much more interesting than the usual and familiar Hwy 5. I’m glad I took the scenic highway and experienced something new and beautiful. I’m proud of my risk-taking this week. =]

Back from Nicaragua

It’s been a week since I’ve been back. It’s nice to not worry about getting diahrrea, dengue, malaria, or losing my passport and getting stuck in another country. But really, Nicaragua is not that bad. I showered everyday, had cell phone reception, had occasional internet access, and had a clean, cozy bed to sleep in every night.

Winter break prior to my trip to Nicaragua was great. I was sleeping at 2-3am every night, doing whatever I wanted. The thought of leaving for Nicaragua sometime at the end of my break loomed over me. I had signed up for this trip because I wanted to know if I could see myself doing work and helping people in another country. I really didn’t have many other reasons for going. I had no particular interest in Nicaragua. Heck, I didn’t even know if Nicaragua was in Central America or South America. On the flip side, I couldn’t think of any good reason for not going. I did end up having a fabulous time and I learned a lot.

Here are some lessons from my trip:

• God makes me fall, and then catches me to demonstrate that He’s got my back. I fell while sliding down a steep volcano and came out with a couple scrapes and a sprained knee. It really could’ve been much worse.
• In a very PJ-esque way of putting things, faith is the opposite of fear.
• Nature is beautiful and invokes worship
• Riding a horse is very different from driving a car because horses have a mind of their own. What makes a horse is good how in-tune with its master.
• Feeling stupid and incompetent is part of learning. I felt on top of my game one day at clinic, and then utterly confused the next. It hit me that challenges are necessary for learning.
• We’re not made for complacency

I thought about Abraham today. Abraham left his home country when God called him. I don’t think God even told Abraham where they were going, but Abraham still went. Abraham must have been scared too, but he trusted that God would take care of him. I used to think that God wouldn’t call me to go anywhere. Or the thought of that scared me so much that I didn’t even think about that as a possibility. Embarking on a journey with much uncertainty feels a little less foreign and uncomfortable for me now. I want to do something adventurous and meaningful! At least something out of the ordinary.

Hello world!

I’m sitting here procrastinating my packing for Nicaragua and decided to start a blog. Big windows. I can’t really think of anything profound to this name. I like sitting in front of a big window and looking outside. There’s something quite enjoyable about being able to look far away while studying, daydreaming, sipping coffee, or surfing the web.

About Nicaragua, I’m leaving tomorrow with a group called Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. I’ll be there for about a week and a half to do some traveling and then put on a week-long free eye clinic for the locals of Nicaragua. I’m not that excited about this trip. It’s strange. Maybe it’s the feeling that this trip isn’t about me having fun. Probably taking it too seriously, like I’m reporting to a job that I start tomorrow. I guess that sucks the fun out of it. I think this trip is probably half about me. We’re going to hike volcanoes, kayak, zipline, and all that fun stuff during the first half. And the second part of the trip should be even more exciting. I get to see eyeballs.

I really don’t know what to expect from Nicaragua. The US Department of State has all this mumbo jumbo about how dangerous Nicaragua (or any other country outside the US) is. Reading that made me kinda scared about what I was getting myself into. Michelle got me Donald Miller’s new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. I like Donald Miller. He compares life to a story. I’m a character in a story that God is writing. As an author, Miller talks about how his fictional characters have a way of writing their own stories and getting themselves in trouble. It’s the same with us. I like to do my own thing, and I’m not always a happy camper when it comes to living out what God writes. Miller says God is writing my story and He’s trying to write a more meaningful story for me. I think I believe that.