Season 37, Episode 1

Sometimes because of how chaotic my life can be I will often think of my life as seasons of a long running tv show.

Some seasons end with cliffhangers and some are just boring random endings with tune in next time for more of the same.

There were not cliffhanger at the end of Season 36, in fact it was anticlimactic for the most part.

There was no peril that required a grand & dramatic saving moment, no ridiculously large romantic gesture requiring an answer, and no life altering question that the rest of my life hinged on being answered the correct way.

Just a random, non-spontaneous ending with a run of the mill question “Will she take the life changing information collected over the course of 365 episodes and use it for the future?”

Will the impact of radical forgiveness, authentic relationships, and groundbreaking (for me) confidence be just as present in Season 37 or will there be lots of related moments of poor choices, aha moments that aren’t so “Aha”, and eerily similar situations crossing my fingers for a different outcome?

That is the singular question that I asked myself over the past few days. Wondering what lessons had the greatest impact as a stepping stone for this next season.

Although there were several highlighted moments of breakthrough and options to choose from I chose one that has been a recurring theme ever single day of the year.

Just because I‘m called to walk in purpose in this very path does not mean that all of the days ahead will be glorious, picture perfect, and awestruck with wonder and amazement!

There have been days in this season of being on assignment and standing in the perfect will of God for my life that I’ve quite frankly wanted to throw in the towel.

Multiple calls home of me telling my parents “this is janky and not cute, I’m coming home!”

And multiple responses of “get the complaining out your system and get right back at it!”

Never after any of those calls to them or my inner circle did I feel better, but instead I decided to try and figure this thing out.

Through my moments of extreme frustration and dragging my feet as slow as possible, the Lord begin to draw my attention to spiritual giants who met their purpose head on and questioned if it was worth it.

During those times of re-reading scripture I saw differently how Moses was called and battled, his family and their legacy. How he watched his brother suffer unimaginable loss.

Yet Moses, continued to walk in obedience and commitment to what God had tasked him with.

Or how Esther walked through the depths of deprevity and held tight to her integrity and purity to stand firm in her call and mission.

And there are many other examples.

It was through this quiet time that clarity was gained that being called does not mean easy, that obedience doesn’t always glitter, perseverance doesn’t always mean winning, and standing firm is not the strange stance we will ever take.

In fact our legs may get weak and sometimes ache more than the best or worst leg days we’ve yet to face.

Now, my frustration didn’t end with all of these revelations, and my heart didn’t change overnight.

However, my perspective has shifted at the conclusion of this 365 day story arc.

One of gratefulness that I’ve been called to serve God’s people.

One of reverence of being able to speak into the lives of His most vulnerable.

One of joy that my story didn’t end the million and one times that on paper it should have.

One of humility that in spite of all of my complaining and grumbling that He still has given me an opportunity to serve.

This is a new Season, one with its own unknown set of adventures, new characters, and hopefully a deeper level of faith being strengthened and spiritual sight that is on an entirely different level.

Season 37 Episode 1

Title: “A new season, no reruns”