What if you woke up 10 years younger...?

I had a thought the other morning: what if you woke up & it was 10 years ago (year 2004 for clarification), BUT knowing everything you had learned and experienced in those 10 years? Would you do things differently? How differently? Besides saving the world, how would you change just your life?

My first few thoughts were health related: start paleo earlier, get allergy blood tested earlier, begin yoga earlier (esp during stressful high school tests I let get to me way too much). Of course this matters to me, because I truly believe a change of diet could have prevented me from losing 3 feet of my intestines.

Next: Focus less on stress & drama and more time with friends.

Also: learn skills and hobbies. College would have been so much better had I been a master chef or gardener or tailor! :p

All of these given where I currently stand in my relationship with the Lord and continuing to trust more in faith.

After I was done fantasizing about sewing pillowcases on weeknights at the age of 15, I realized it's never too late to "start over". What changes can I make now to make for a better me 10 years down the road? I sure could name a few. While I am glad to say some of the things I would change I am in fact changing now, I asked myself why stop there?

The Lord gave me that thought to fantasize my "could be better" life now, though knowing all past events led me to where I am now. If it weren't for my emotional breakdown at Fish Camp over my surgery/diagnosis that led me to want to become a fish camp counselor, how could I have ever met James? Has anyone else wondered how to have met your spouse if one pivotal moment never occurred, and for the sake of the game, you knew he/she was your soulmate? I concluded I would have had to stalk James at the REC in order to meet him.

So the question is, where do I want to go from here? What does 35 year old Rachel want to know how to do? Where does she want to volunteer her time? Who are her friends?

I love the perspective that comes from trying to envision life differently. I also love waking up every day to a clean slate and opportunity to grow! New Year's resolutions come once a year, and most people don't  keep them. Why not change your life...today? It is NEVER too late!

Philosophically yours,

RR

Road Work in Life

As I begin blogging, I thought it was fitting to start with a thought a had a few years back. I am continually reminded of this insight God gave me, and it only seemed fair to begin my blogging career by revisiting these thoughts while on the road from DFW to College Station.


During a 3 hour excursion back home to College Station, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t an hour into the drive when I drove through road work in South Fort Worth. There were road signs signaling the road work ahead, and these signs prepared me for any slow-traffic and naturally, road work. However, it wasn’t until I actually read the signs that I received the breakthrough God had for me. The ‘Rough Road’, ‘Shoulder Drop Off’, ‘No Center Stripe’ and ‘Loose Gravel’ signs really stuck out to me. Why did these vibrant bright orange signs stick out? Because they alerted me of the dangers and obstacles ahead as I traveled; these signs acted as a guide as I traveled through the road work. It wasn't until I reached the end of the construction that I received my slap in the face. The ‘End of Road Work’ sign came, and I was ready to return to the regular speed limit. However, as I returned to the normally posted speed limit, I passed by the ‘End of Work Zone’ sign, where one is then instructed to return to the speed limit. Why had I never paid attention to this sign before? Although I knew it existed, I never really read it and followed the sign’s lead. I was too busy returning to my normal speed limit to continue watching for these road construction signs.

And then it dawned on me. These signs were aids in the travel, just as God is in life. Except, we don’t get neon orange signs to let us know of the dangers or mysteries of this travel. We are expected to just trust in God and know He has everything under control. He will help us when there is no shoulder, loose gravel or no center stripe on our path. When we have faith in His lead, He will guide us through the road work in our life.


What stuck out the most to me on this drive was the last sign, the ‘End of Work Zone’ sign. Lately, I have been growing in my walk with Him, in my relationships with my friends, and in my own self discovery. I had made it through the road work in my life, and I am in comfortable and amazing place in life. I couldn’t be more grateful for the people and circumstances in my life. Additionally, I have been eager to begin new journeys; whether that’s finding prince charming or pursuing my new major and life plans, I have rushed to look out for these events, hoping that every moment is the deciding factor in my life. What I have not realized, and what God revealed to me during the remaining 2 hour drive, is that I haven’t made it through the ‘Work Zone.’ Although I have made it through the road work of loose gravel and shoulder drops, I am not ready to return to my normal pace and embark on the rest of my journey, so to speak. I’m still in that work zone and need to adapt to all the new changes in my life. I should not be racing back to my normal speed, but continuing at the recommended speed, giving a ‘brake’ to the workers and watching for the police monitoring the work zone. God has everything planned out perfectly; He knows when and where every little detail of my life will unfold, all I have to do is trust in Him and obey the rules He’s laid down.

Sometimes it is easy to wonder when life will play out perfectly, and when you will meet the right person or come across the right situation that will determine your career in life. But these things shouldn’t be the focus of your life...not until God has cleared you of your work zone and set you back onto clear road.


He’s instructed us:
“Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, submit your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your soul in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:13
We can’t worry about the road ahead of us, just have faith in Him, and He will see to it that everything will go perfectly.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6



I wrote this entry after I changed majors, was between relationships, was adapting to taking care of myself in college, was making new friends and was learning more about my personal walk with the Lord. Quite frankly, I was changing in a lot of areas, and I reached a point where I thought I was ready to move on to more exciting adventures. I couldn't figure out why I seemed to be a stand still. What I have learned is that I was still recovering and adjusting to these new changes and was not ready to jump back in to new challenges. For example, I could not understand how I could know so many nice guys yet my dating life be at a lull. A couple of months after writing this entry, I actually started dating the man who is now my Fiance. God has a perfect timing for everything in our lives, and when we are completely out of our work zones, He will allow us to resume traveling at our usual speed. Until then, we must trust in Him to keep us away from dangerous road conditions. Every time I drive through a construction zone I am reminded about His hand in my life and on the road in which I travel. I cannot be more thankful for the joys He has given me, despite the trying work zones I have had in my life.

~Rachel