Leave.

To everyone who has said to me over the last year, "gee, I wish I could do something like you're doing - getting out, seeing the world, truly making a difference."

Do you? Do you really? Because there's really not much else to it. I understand we'll always have an infinite list of "buts." BUT, I sounded exactly like that a year ago. BUT job. BUT debt. BUT relationships. BUT fear. BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT.

I've been reading over old journals, and I'm reminded again how much work God does when you give him the space to do so.

What if I I told you that God is in absolute control of everything that you yield to his hand, and he loves you with absolute perfection - literally gaga over you - and knows absolutely what's best for you in every situation? I know a lot of us believe this, but I want us all to really try live like it's true. I know a lot of us have trouble believing it at all, but we should try living as if it were true anyway. We can't lose. Either we discover we were right and life goes on as it always has, or we start seeing evidence that it really is true. Really. And if it's really true, than it kicks BUT'S butt. No excuse not to dream big and hit the road.

I learned an important lesson from my friend KJay several years ago, and it's this: Everybody always does exactly what they want. You always have a choice. And it's not what you want, it's what you'll give up to get it. Comfort v Adventure. Stability v Growth. the Status Quo v the Extraordinary. Now if your dream-come-true is the 9 to 5 in the same ol' town, then I could almost envy you - BUT - I know I want so much more.

About this time last year, my friend Jon gave me Donald Miller's memoir Through Painted Deserts. There's some good moments, but the introduction alone hit me like a train heading out of town. It ends:

I want to repeat one word for you:

Leave.

Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed.

We'll see you out there.