a happy heart: too blessed to be stressed

chaos is defined by merriam webster as complete disorder and confusion.

me after locking keys in car

chaos seems to be something that i constantly have in my life--just in regards to the random things that happen to me and the way in which i connect all of my thoughts. for instance, i was in washington just last week for a recruiting trip. everything, in theory, was going to go seamlessly. well, that's what i told myself. but then, i left juneau and things seemed to crumble: tsa stopped me both ways, i lost my room key, locked my keys in the trunk of the rental car while my phone was on 10% battery, spilled coffee all over myself, had a huge blister on my foot, had massive pit stains because i didn't think that seattle would be way warmer than juneau, lost my credit card for about two minutes, and a handful of other things. is this surprising? no. i'll just add it to the list where i have my black eye, a person getting stuck to me on the elevator, having a horse poop on me, etc.

in fact, i am so used to weird events like this that i have no choice but to have an optimistic attitude about it. a friend from back home recently texted me the following:
"for some reason, you seem to be prone to weird ass shit. you're not defined by these weird ass scenarios you always seem to be in. you're defined by how well you crawl out of the pile of shit. and if anyone can see the good in a shitty situation and rise about the dung pile, it's you. most people would fall apart but you always seem to be able to make the best of it."

it's not worth being angsty. small weird things happen and big challenging things happen in my life. but, the chaos that those situations bring, are put into order by God. the way in which i handle these situations reflect who i am in the ways in which i serve Him. being salty does not glorify Him or His people at all, instead it could lead to further chaos.

"for God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people." 1 Corinthians 14:33

of course it's easy to reflect on the negative aspects of life: broken relationships, student and adult debt, insecurities, oversleeping, forgetting a rain fly while hammock camping in the middle of a rainforest, spilling coffee all over, sin, etc. focusing on that negativity is what the enemy wants us to do so that he may take away from God's glory and victory. there's too much good. i'm too blessed to be stressed! i love Jesus and that's all that matters. i learn from the word every day and just plaster a smile on my face because Jesus is something to smile about. plus, we have too many frowning clowns in the world.

the porcupine i almost ran over

i've been waking up around 5:00am almost every day and on those days when it's not raining (which as of lately, has been rare) i naturally go rollerblade. the mountains and glacier surround me. i usually take a break after mile 5 of my route and just stop and inhale the fresh air as the overcast sky shines it grey on my pasty skin and stare out. because it's so early, everything is so much more serene and peaceful (until you almost run over a porcupine and have a dog try to run after you). i think about the doughnut i want to eat but also the overwhelming thought of God being everywhere. it's impossible to escape His presence.

life is weird and i am one who can attest to that. i am prone to "weird ass shit" and am awkward. but i wouldn't change anything because i know my situations give people a smile and help me grow in my faith (oddly enough).

so everyone, go and enjoy your day! remember that you are also too blessed to be stressed. life always seems to work out. follow your heart and be open to the spirit.

work hard. pray hard.

xoxo
-A

p.s. even my photo arrangement is in chaos (see below)

hammock camping