I Like "This"

For a little context about the title of this post, let me tell you about a new *mild* obsession in the Chester house: the show Suits. In this show, one of the main characters is a lawyer named Harvey Specter - one of the lines that he is most famous for is: "life is this (has his hand low on the ground), I like this (raises the bar)", and this line largely captures Harvey's personality. He is constantly pushing the limits, he is sleek and elevated, he loves a three piece suit, and he tries to live his life just a little above the ordinary man, because he likes "this".

I have to say, I think that all of us might like to be a little like Harvey; just a little bit above the ordinary, for our life to feel like this separated thing - like maybe we are the main character capable of being more than the average man.

I'm here to tell you, that you already are. When we have a relationship with Christ, we are not dependent upon earthly success for life to be "like this" it simply is - because His plan is already so much more intricate and elevated than anything we could come up with on our own.

This is something that has been abundantly apparent in my life lately, and I praise the Lord for it.

While you might notice that my blog posts have been slightly less frequent lately, it is not from a lack of the Lord moving in my life.

This school year, I returned to taking mostly online classes, much like I did my senior year of high school when this blog first began. I did this so that I could begin working with the North Hall community through FCA, in addition to the admin work I was already doing.

In the last week, I took biscuits to the staff of North Hall Middle school, and while walking in, I simply had to pause and realise that one of the last times I was in this middle school, was as a student where I would see an FCA staff person delivering biscuits, and think "man, wouldn't that be cool to do one day?". Not just deliver food, but interact with students and make an impact on people.

I now get to be the person going into these schools. I now get to care for, and love on people, who helped make me who I am. I get to be a part of a mission that is radically changing people's lives.

And I realized: I don't need my life to be "like this" because it already is.

That's not to say that my life is perfect, or that your's ever will be; in fact, life is harder for Christians than it would be if we were to simply pursue things of this world.

I say this to say, that the "this" you are chasing is already sitting and waiting in front of you the moment you are willing to accept it from the Lord.

I believe that I will do a million and one things on this earth before I die: a dozen different careers and callings for each of the ways the Lord has gifted me, and I think that each of these will change with the season of life that I am walking through. I also believe without a shadow of a doubt that each and everyone one of them will be far greater than anything I could have constructed for myself alone.

I believe that each of those things will be especially from the Lord, intended for me and me alone, so long as I am pursuing the Lord's will in my life.

The book of Esther confirms this: in it, Esther is given a unique opportunity to be in a position of power where she can radically change the lives of her fellow Jews, and while at first she fears what might happen because of her actions, her uncle challenges her by saying: "perhaps you were born for a time such as this" (Esther 4:14). Not "perhaps you were born to just exist", but perhaps you were born to live your life like this - so that you may go and make a irrevocable mark on people's lives. Perhaps you were born to fulfil a purpose.

God knew the world needed Esther for "this", just as He knew the world needed a you to fulfill your calling! And let me be the first to tell you, there is no "perhaps" in your story: you were born for a time such as this.

You were born with a purpose and a passion that no amount of earthly success or failure can define.

So go live your life like this.

- Emma

"Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."