Unfamiliar becomes familiar

Yesterday, I went for a drive. It was the first time in 5 months that I had the opportunity to drive on my own for more than 2 minutes. I had forgotten how much I missed getting into a car, turning up the music, and jamming out. Car drives used to be a place I could process things, a place to rid my mind and heart of negative things, a place to just listen and converse with Jesus. But that isn't the point of this blog. As I was driving to a student's house, about a 10-15 minute drive, I reflected back on the days when I used to think this drive was forever and a day away. When I was with my Awe Star team back in the summer of 2011, we stayed at this school in Pelči which is just outside of Kuldiga. After a long day of being with the team, doing ministry, and struggling through my partnership, I remember being on the bus thinking, "why do we have to stay so far away?" Now, however, I think of how silly it was for me to think this was far at all. But it got me thinking about life. How often when we start something,(running, working out, reading the bible, praying, etc) do we think this is hard? Or this is so foreign and uncomfortable to me? But then each time we do this thing, we make the same drive, we become more and more familiar with this "thing". We look back and see how silly we were to see the "difficulty" in it because it seems so comfortable and known to us now. Then I was thinking about God. I remember when the thought of a relationship with God was intimidating. I remember when I used to look on my relationship with Jesus like this drive to Pelči...are we there yet? I remember when I would have to make myself read the bible because so many people told me in the end, it is worth it. I look at my life now. I'll be the first to admit, I have a long way to go. I am not there yet. There are days "Pelči" still seems far away, but I also see that the things I thought were uncomfortable about Jesus have become comfortable. I see how it is easier now to spend more and more time with Jesus. I see that it takes less time for me to be real with Jesus than when I first started. The drive to "Pelči" doesn't seem so far anymore. And, you know, there are even times when we take a step back, maybe go to that place less often. Our brains don't forget the way. Our hearts don't forget the way. So even if you haven't spent time with Jesus a lot lately, even if you haven't went on a run lately or even if you haven't been to your "Pelči" lately, your heart knows the way. Take the first step and God will guide you, gently. Then you can look back and remember those days where it seemed so far away, so hard to just get there and smile and dance because it was worth it. Basically, I just want to encourage you like I was encouraged yesterday. At first, the first step, seems so hard and we seem impatient but when you take that first step, when you stick with it, it becomes easier. It become enjoyable. :) Be blessed and know that you are blessed! Use those blessings to bless someone else, even if it is a smile. :)