I woke up early this morning. At least, early compared to when I usually wake up.
Not hearing my alarm for 45 minutes, I finally hopped out of bed around 5:45. Sometimes I find it easier to get out of bed if I get out of bed enthusiastically. So yes, I hopped out of bed.
Knowing that I'd have to leave by at least 6:10 in order to make it out to West Holmes High School by 6:45 for Young Life, I got ready and left in good time.
I'm not one to get up early if I have to, but as I've started discover my passion for walking alongside high schoolers, I have found that the lack of sleep is worth it.
Now this morning it was storming. When I say storming, I don't say it lightly. Normally I don't mind storms. I don't mind driving in them and I don't mind being home alone in them. I didn't even think it was that bad until I was out driving in it.
There was lightening that lit up the sky and thunder that followed so quickly that you knew the lightening was close. There was rain beating down hard on my windshield that turned to hail and then back to rain multiple times.
Suddenly a lightning bolt struck right in front of my car. I would say about two or three yards in front of my car. I had never had a lightning strike so close to me before. It was so bright that I actually closed my eyes because the light that radiated off of the bolt was so bright that it hurt my eyes.
Then, not even a second after the bolt ascended, thunder roared.
That's how close the lightening strike was to hitting me.
I'm going to be completely honest. It didn't scare me, I just remember thinking that it was so strangely close to me. I remember thinking that it was weird.
If I was driving faster, would it have hit me?
What would've happened if it would've hit me?
Would I have died?
Again, these questions didn't scare me. They were just questions I was thinking out of curiosity.
As I was thinking about these things, my mind wandered to all of the times that people told me, "You're young, you have plenty of time."
Whether they were telling me I had plenty of time to find the right guy or that I had plenty of time to live my life and be adventurous, the line was always the same.
"You're young, you have plenty of time."
I learned at a young age that "time" is irrelevant.
I learned that just because I'm young doesn't mean that I have plenty of time.
So to the people that would tell me I have plenty of time I would often respond with, "No, I don't. People die."
And I would still respond with that.
It's time to stop living like you have plenty of time because in reality, you don't.
In reality, time is irrelevant.
Life is over in the blink of an eye.
Start making your life count.
Stop settling.
Take risks.
Tell the people you love that you love them.
Go forgive that person that drives you crazy.
Have coffee with someone you haven't seen in forever.
Stop worrying about the past and do what needs to be done.
Jesus lovers, go love on people. Go make a difference in the world.
Let me tell you something. God places dreams and passions in our hearts for a reason. Don't ignore them. Instead, trust Him daily and make your dream a reality. There will always be things trying to push you back down again and things that will try to hold you back. Don't forget that accomplishing dreams takes sacrifice. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices and sometimes, they're worth it. Living your dream, that will be worth it.
Remember that your dream is a promise that you were made to change the world.
It doesn't matter how old you are.
It doesn't matter if you're young or if you're old.
It doesn't matter if you think you've missed your chance.
Go do what you were made to do and don't look back.
-----------------
Thank you for reading. If you were blessed, I would encourage you to share this.
Subscribe to our email list here:
Me In Perspective Email List Signup