A Piece of Mint

After lunch, I often get a cotton mouth. Such feeling bothers me when I go back to what I need to work on. What I need at this moment is a single piece of mint. As soon as I put one piece, my mouth gets cleared up and refreshed. The refreshment gives me a small but encouraging motivation to continue my work.

Meeting my old friend this week was a piece of mint. I have known her since I was four years old. We were out of contact until we graduated high school. She and I got to meet last summer for the first time, and a year later today, we met again.

We talked about our schools and our college life and culture, living in-campus and off-campus, our faith, and relationships. Even though we have not seen each other frequently, it felt like we have seen each other pretty often because we were comfortable to talk about any topic, even our own faith and spiritual life since college. I guess 15 years cannot be ignored! Disregarding the difference in our colleges and places we live in, struggles we experience as Christians were common. She shared her concerns about managing general relationships and social consequences of being stood out and calling out someone. She mentioned that she often finds herself becoming a timid person and avoiding people except her close friends because people are always looking for someone to talk behind. When I listened to her concerns and stories, I was able to understand what she means and how tough it is to be "socially acceptable" as a Christian.

There were not something dramatic to make this time with her special but how God used this time to awaken me was special to me. The reason why this time with her was special to me was not only because how long this friendship has lasted and been continuing but also because my heart and mouth were led by God during conversations with her. My heart was open to share advice what God would tell her. Despite I had not been doing a great job to continuously have time with God and been unsure about my qualification to be a person to give advice to someone, I was able to tell her that God has a bigger and better plan for us than forcing yourself to blend with people who does not seek to love others. There may be consequences but bigger blessings waiting for us. Without hesitation, words were let out.

These words of encouragement and fearlessness came out from myself who has not been confident with her current spiritual relationship with God. I believe that God's presence was the reason why I was able to give the advice to my friend. When I was listening to her, I was thinking what God would like to tell her and such focus helped me to rely on God and His Words. At this time period with the feeling of uncertainty, God underscored that I am His people therefore I shall not worry about how I will do anything. Such lesson I learned reminded me of the story of Moses and when he received a mission from God in Exodus. When Moses heard the mission to save Israelites, he refused it because he did not feel ready or qualified to be a leader to complete such mission. God responded to his concern,

"Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Exodus 4:11-12

God has my back and the one thing I need to do is give everything to Him. How comforting is this! But also, this verses provide me with a meaning of myself as a His people and His tool. No matter how much I slack off, He has plans to use me to lighten this world. Even when I do not feel ready, God knows when I am ready for a new adventure. He knows me more than myself. It's something to be grateful that God will give me another opportunity and chance to grow as a tool of God disregarding to mistakes and laziness that I express.

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Dear God, thank you for giving me this amazing friendship and another day of life to appreciate what is in front of me. Help me to rely on you more and thrive in my life as Your people. Give me bravery to not hesitate and doubt if I am ready because you have given this opportunities with knowing that I am ready. Let me grow as Your tool and use me as a tool of Your light to the world.

Amen.