Commercials... and Other Life Altering Events

There's a commercial playing here in South Africa that asks the question, "Where have your dreams gone?" It shows all the typical fire fighter/doctor/ballerina-type dreams of young children and then details that when those dreams die, so does a part of yourself. I've always been so thankful that I grew up where I did and was allowed the freedom to compete in soccer, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics and distanced running. I was given the chance to love whatever I was learning about, which meant that I wanted to be everything from a missionary doctor to a marine biologist to a program director for the save-the-whales campaign. I'm glad no one ever told me those dreams were stupid, or that being a doctor wasn't in my cards since I'm terrible at math... and science... and studying. No coach ever squashed my dreams of becoming Nadia Comaneci, even though I was 5'6" (1.67m) at age 11 and my mother dutifully carted me from one practice to the next.

If you had told my 10 year-old self that I would one day be the mother of three very small children, living in South Africa and editing the regional news for all of Africa (at least for the church), all before 30, I would have laughed at you. No really, in-your-face laughed! I couldn't read properly at 10, let alone write and who wants three kids before 30?!? And when we received the call to move to South Africa, Todd had a clear job with clear passions for said job. My responsibilities were more ambiguous and nondescript. I was rather grateful at the time, because I was the mother of one and that was a huge and often overwhelming task. I wondered, though, if I would ever find something that truly spoke to my soul... you know what I mean? Something that makes you WANT to do whatever it is that you're doing. So I find myself now, living a dream I never knew I had, because I serve a God who knows me better than anyone. He knew, long before I did, that I have a passion for writing and missions and kids AND adult conversation. So, if you want to check out the monthly newsletter for the Africa Region - Church of the Nazarene, great! Email me (blesliesa@gmail.com) and you'll get it when it comes out. If not, please keep reading my random musings... I like company over coffee :)