But, as we were talking about this and that, she stopped and said "you've got travels ahead of you," I nodded my head--she was merely restating what I had already told her. "God's telling me that you do and that you've been searching for something and you're going to find it in an unexpected place."
I'm not against prophecy or speaking words over others. In fact, I think it's awesome how God can speak to us so clearly through another person and how He knows we wouldn't accept those bits of truth in any other form. But, as much as I am for prophecy, I am also for discernment, wisdom, and taking things with a grain of salt.
Maybe what this woman said to me will hit home in a huge way in my travels to come. Maybe when I'm in Washington I'll find that beloved pair of green corduroy pants I somehow managed to lose 5 years ago in Pella. Or my grandma's black pearl ring. Better yet, the passport I lost last year. I have this amazing ability to lose things I really like. But, I digress.
I do not mean to treat this prophecy with contempt (don't be impressed by my vocabulary, this is verbatim 1st Thessalonians 5:20), I'm just saying she could have been a little bolder and gone a little more specific. Her words are vague and the more I think about it, the more I realize this is the story of life, literally.
We find the things we're searching for in unexpected places:
1. We find ultimate love and true salvation on a cross (hello torture weapon of the Roman Empire).
2. We find freedom in vulnerability. (Even Brené Brown agrees.)
3. We find greatness in servanthood.
4. We find life when we surrender our own.
5. etc. (Can you think of some other beautiful juxtapositions?)
I'm thankful to this woman in the bright yellow shirt for her openness to talking to a stranger. I am grateful she is in communication with God and wanted to share what she heard. If nothing else, my conversation with this woman gave me some food for thought and encouraged me to blog once again.
In peace, Christina
Back on the blog train!
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