In this summer that seems to me to be somewhat meandering, purposeless, or random, God seems to find a way to remind me that even the rest he designates from time to time is intentional. I have felt, throughout this summer, a sense of waiting--probably due to being so excited for school to start up in the fall! But of course, that is a big distraction, and doesn't make the time go any faster. What it does do is make me realize that I still am dependent on God for giving my life purpose at any given moment; for how I hope to identify myself, which is by the child of God that I am, not by the activities or acts that I achieve. But, you know, work in progress.
Last night I found myself in a state of bliss on a southern-Bogota terrace admiring the majesty of mountains surrounding such gorgeous (and prettily illuminated) city. Inhaling air from the steady, frigid breeze, and just watching the unfading glimmer of life.
Life is so very real here. I am constantly surprised and renewed by it. The attention to family. The giing thanks for waking up well and safe every morning, and the thanksgiving for the food on the table. The natural beauty surrounding us. The intrigue in observing all the varieties of activities people here get down to each and every day. Even driving in all the traffic and with all those crazy drivers--how fast and recklessly and hazardously some people take to driving is just a reminder of how fleeting life is, and how full of excitement and feeling it can be.
The same was true being in church on Sunday, at a church called Centro de Vida y Adoracion, and singing in Spanish a worship song that I had previously learnt in Argentina. It is so cool to me that my adventures are intertwining, constantly and carefully. That certainly adds to my life's cohesiveness, which encourages me. Making a Colombian friend in Argentina led to a friendship while I was in Buenos Aires, another couple of visits when we were both back in Bogota, and then to my return trip to stay with his family these two weeks in Bogota.
I am so grateful for this year of travel. I have learned about life in general, as well as understood more how I want to live it. All the little memories and lessons are things I can bring to college and beyond. All the photos and the foods and the souvenirs that I have enjoyed only serve to trigger memory of all the special moments that have made this time such a blessing. As it draws to a close now, I'm going to savor both these remembrances and the new adventures to come. On whatever continent, in whatever country, with whichever people they may be.
xox
