Do Hard Things.

I  had a new co-counselor this summer. Together, we hung out with twelve high school students for four weeks, cooking over a fire, hiking, and canoeing to name a few.  And we made it out alive.  And our kids did too.  Translation: success.

I joke that co-counseling with someone is like practice for marriage.  Decision making...together. Conflict resolution, taking care of children, and picking up after one another.  I'd like to think I'll make a better wife one day because I spent summers living with several dudes [all of them too legit too quit] in the wilderness trying to keep groups of kids alive.  You are bound to learn something in this context [more than just about what it might be like to be married to a male someday] and so here are a few lessons learned via my "better half".

He taught me the importance of vinegar in fried rice, especially on a large griddle over a fire.  Spitting, just for the heck of it. I somehow picked this up from him, a habit I am deserpately needing to break after my incident hocking a loogie in the mall parking lot wearing a dress.  Classy.  I learned how to hold the empties in my cheek while cracking the remainders on the opposite side.  I learned that not everyone from Arkansas listens to country music.  I learned the importance of standing firm.  After paddling back in an aluminum canoe in a thunderstorm, he taught me the importance of perspective.  He embodies Ephesians 4:15 "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ", a necessary recurring lesson for me.

One of the biggest lessons however, the one that will stick with me, is simple.

Do hard things.

We decided this would be a good theme to talk to our kids about after a paddle across a lake in a wicked storm that left me praying for a helicopter. I hope they got something out of it.  I know I did.  So much so I've decided I'm framing our torn up map from the day-that-everything-went-wrong so I can hang it up on whatever walls I'm living in to remind me.  [and by the way the day-that-everything-went-wrong is a different day than the helicopter-prayer-day, just so there wasn't any confusion as to why getting everyone back alive was an accomplishment]

There will always be hard things.  Current hard thing: trust.  
Psalms has been my bread and butter the past few weeks.  Does not, "O God, Do Not Keep Silent", "Revive Us Again", "I Cry Out Day and Night Before You", and "Great Is Your Steadfast Love" sound like the greatest hits soundtrack for someone who is trying to figure out their life? Anyway, while they have been comforting, there is an occasional kick in the pants laced in there as well.

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.  [i feel like i am but really i'm just spoiled, scared, and lacking trust] Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant who trust in you-you are my God.  Psalm 86

That's bold.  God, I'm needy so take care of me because I'm living a life that reflects you.  I trust in you so SAVE ME.  I asked myself, "Self.  Can you say those things when you are asking God to save and preserve you? Can you confidently say, 'yup, I trust you'?"  Unfortunately, self didn't produce the answer I was looking for because often times I find myself in a state of fear.  Fear of wrong decision making.  Of opportunities missed.  Of being directionless all my life.  And it's really hard to trust when you are focused on your fear.  It sounds so simple.  Just TRUST.

Read Psalm 78 if you need a reminder of God's incredible patience, compassion and provision.  And if they just would have believed and trusted him to begin with things would have been much easier I'm sure.

A few weeks ago, to do hard things was to swim class five rivers and jump off a thirty foot cliffs.  Now it's learning to trust in God's steadfast love.  Slightly different I'd say.  The former just took a little adrenaline to achieve.  I see the latter taking a lifetime.

Both hard though.