"Do you want a drink?"
"Do you have a season pass?"
"The bathrooms are straight ahead behind the trees. It's the building with the lattice on top."
"The Lost River entrance is straight down there on your left before the Icee stand."
"Have a good day!"
These are just some of the words that leave my lips on average about 200 to 300 times a day. If you think you'll get creative in your questions and ask "Don't you get hot in that dress?", don't feel so special. I get asked that almost as often as I get asked where the bathrooms are. No. I don't get hot. I'm in this dress for a reason and that's to make you feel like you're in the 1800s. It's not by choice, but I have to have a happy heart.
If you're reading this and thinking that I hate my job, you're wrong. I just laught a lot at how funny people are. I actually really enjoy it. I am obsessed with getting to know all of my coworkers, whether it be by hearing stories of how wasted they got last weekend or hearing about their fight with their exes for custody of their children. I love smiling at people and dancing with their little children. I love telling people why I'm in Branson this summer and that I'm here to work and do Bible study and learn about Jesus. I've seen so many hearts be encouraged that come through my line, just by hearing that there are 30 college students dedicating their summers to growing in the Lord. A missionary family from Kenya came through my line yesterday. The dad was deaf, but had the sweetest heart for his family. His wife came and gave me their card and asked for my name so they could pray for me. Another mom asked how she could get her son connected with the Navs at his campus. I just love people.
"so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." Philippians 2:15-16a
This verse says that as God's kids, we should look so different from others, that it's like we're these huge balls of light in the darkness. There's no mistaking it. My teammate Amanda pointed out this morning in Bible study that the darker it is, the more you can see them shine through. Why is it that tolerance and coexisting with the world is pushed so much? If we tolerate so much around us and glaze over the hard stuff because we just want to "show love", how are we going to come through in the darkest of times? My application for this verse this week is to seek out opportunities to show the love of the Lord to others and through that, look different. I want to live my life feeling awkward because if I'm not feeling uncomfortable with the ways of the world, that means I'm blending right in. Doesn't sound like a healthy star to me.
The biggest lesson I've been learning is the importance of trust. In a one-on-one with my team leader Libby, she asked me to answer the following question with whatever pops into my head. The question was "Where is God?" I spouted out "In heaven!" and then realized how wrong I was. Libby and I then proceeded to discuss why I seemed to ignore the fact that he's not only in heaven, he's sitting next to me, he's holding my hand. I think I'm too afraid to let God see what I do and think every day to accept the fact that he is with me, next to me, when I do and think those things. I want him to be in heaven, upset with me from afar and patting me on the head when I do good things. I want my salvation to be based on good works. I think that's why every religion is never based on faith alone. Going to church, doing good things, eating all your veggies, all those things always trip people up because people don't want to accept that God is striving with them side by side, wanting to save them. It's that simple. I struggle with the simplicity of salvation. It's hard for my mind to wrap around the fact that when God sees me, he doesn't see my sin, he sees Jesus and his blood that washed me clean. He sees Jesus's righteousness. He sees it on me!! Incredible. I'm learning so much about how weak I am, and how much I desire rest in his shadow. I want to be in his refuge and just have peace.
Thank you all for all of your prayers. They mean so much and I can feel them spurring me on through each day. My Abba is faithful to show me new things.
