5308

So today is an oddly reflective day. Two years ago today is the day now tattooed on my arm. It's interesting to have my physical mark coincide with the day it is commemorating. May 3rd, 2008 was such an important day. I remember it all so well, from many details of the morning track meet, to my mid-afternoon activities with friends which were supposed to be a simple drive back. I put on a play a few hours later, nearly got in a fight back stage. My coach was disrespected. Don't disrespect my coach. Well, that's not all the story behind the near fight. I went out to dinner with friends, celebrating the successful run of the play. I left for home. The day was almost over, and certainly entertaining enough by this point. The week had left me sleep deprived and stressed. Trying to deal with track, drama, homework, and my first speeding ticket had worn on me. I fell asleep while driving. I'll finish the story in another post with the narrative I wrote last year about the event.

For now, I reflect. That was the day I realized God had a plan for me. I cannot look back at that day without seeing His protecting hand. The speeding ticket from two days before may have saved my life. I see God in that. The EMT, and one of the cops were shocked I was so seemingly unhurt. I see God in that as well. God saved my life, and I believe he did it for a purpose. I already see His plan working in me and through me. He brought me to Arizona so that I could be a part of Damascus Road. He sent me to Haiti, and in a few years, I believe He's sending me to the Midwest to help begin a new Damascus Road. Beyond that, I have no idea, but I know God has a plan for me, a great plan. In fact, I am afraid. I fear His plan is greater than what I can handle, or greater than what I desire for myself. I fear His plan will ask me to give all that I possibly can give. I also have faith that God will never abandon me. He didn't abandon me on that road, He didn't abandon me in Haiti; whatever God plans for me, he will not abandon me. That is all I need to know.

The other part of my tattoo is GRACE. I actively read my Bible at the end of last summer more than I have in awhile. I read through Romans, and discovered just how beyond my understanding grace is. I cannot fathom grace; it is so great and wonderful. I thought I understood it. I thought it was simple. I was wrong. Grace is something so incredibly present in my life. I have since taken a line from Relient K's "Be My Escape" deeply to heart. "The beauty of grace is it makes life not fair." Eventually this lyric will also be etched on to my skin. It so beautifully captures the little I understand about grace. Grace is completely and absolutely undeserved gifts from God in the purest form. My accident, more importantly, my life is God's grace. Until next time, have fun, live life, and don't die. Good night folks.