True Challenge

I've experienced a lot this past week and the past couple of days. We've definitely been kept occupied. I seriously don't think I have ever been so busy all day in my entire life. Thats also because all I did was sleep till 12 P.M., watch Netflix and repeat the same routine. Every day. But here, we wake up around 5 A.M. every morning to surf or have morning exercise, then go to morning chores, then class, then lunch, then afternoon work duties, then 2 hours of free time, then dinner, then an hour of class or base activity, then I'm about done for the night and pass out around 9:30. Thats definitely a more healthy lifestyle, but like I said, we are definitely kept busy. Wednesdays we have free nights and some friends and I decided to journey to Kangaroo Island. My Australian friends see Kangaroos how Coloradans see snow, so a lot of them decided to stay behind. So 6 Americans and one New Zealander walked to Kangaroo Island. Took us a while to find, but it was worth it. I have now touched and fed a kangaroo. It was weird how peaceful and calm they were, I'm sure they're not all like that, but this one literally stared me in the eyes. It was such a cool experience. 

Later we walked to the city and where Fringe World was going on. I don't know exactly what that means but it was basically a festival. We spotted these people on a dance floor dancing, but couldn't hear any music. They all had neon green and blue headphones on that I assumed is where the music came from. SO COOL. It was free and we had time, and who wouldn't want to be part of a silent disco? (Thats what they're called). We put the headphones on picked between two stations of music. The experience was unlike any other. So much entertainment, especially when you took off the headphones and just watched people dance to no music at all. After that we got a Taiwanese dessert which was aaamazing and walked around the city. Completely lit up with energy, people and enjoyment. 

Like I said, I've experienced a lot this week. A week of forgiveness and repentance. And a lot about the attitude of the heart. How important it is to have a softened heart, towards all people, how important it is to do all things out of love and pure joy and how forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. You might start to see a different side of me from here on out, but its only cause I've promised to get to the absolute core of myself. And to truly have the courage to feel and grasp this abundant, rich life with two hands. 

Where your heart is determines where your life is headed. Its about how you view yourself, but also how others view you. What life are you living? What influence do you give to others? When you are loved by someone, you have choices to make. Everything that you do impacts the ones we love. And everything our loved ones do, impacts our hearts. That's why it is so powerful to have a forgiving heart. Forgiveness is a choice. Forgiveness is love when you've been offended. Its a sign of complete tender-heartedness, strength and humility. Focus on how you deal with people, how you choose to react, how you choose to show them who you are and your character in that. I've learned that not forgiving someone only hurts ourselves in the end. But forgiving someone is the ULTIMATE sign of love. You are sacrificing something of yourself for the other being. You're trusting them to make it right, and by forgiving someone, you are doing them a favor. The favor of showing them what good character looks like and giving them that chance to hopefully in other circumstances learn to forgive others as well. It's a chain reaction. A forgiving heart is a selfless one, one of strength, humility and of good character. We aren't made to carry sin, we aren't made to carry guilt. I also challenge myself and you to ask for forgiveness. And to recognize when you need to be forgiven. That too will strengthen your heart. It's so selfish to hurt the people we think we love. I have this passion for people, and one of the greatest gifts I have been given is the gift of relationships. Its heart hurting to those people that I have such a spirit for, to endure the pain I selfishly put upon them, the pain they are so undeserving of feeling. And thats how everyone feels when they are wronged. So be totally vulnerable. Forgiving is just another way to impact people. I seriously challenge you to change the perspective you have towards people who have done you wrong. Make it a habit. It'll change a lot of areas in your life, areas you didn't even think needed changing. Forgiveness truly makes the heart free. 

"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay', says the Lord. Therefore, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good". Romans 12:17-21