On The Ground - Living Intentionally

On the Ground - Living Intentionally

Believe that God is looking for some disturbed people. He is searching for men and women, students, and young adults who will allow him to disturb them by making them truly see the world in which we live—so disturbed that they will be compelled to do something about what they see.^a —Kay Warren

ON OCTOBER 24, 2008, my excellent Indian adventure came to a screeching halt. Parting at the airport from my newfound girlfriends was bittersweet: it was so hard to say good-bye to those with whom we had experienced so much in the fourteen days; at the same time, it was good to know we wouldn’t be pitching our tents three to a room that night!

The seven of us were an unlikely crew. Star is a manicurist; Toni is a litigator. Sue and I have each been married for nineteen years; Jayna and Star are single. Froswa and Traci are active Christians who are raising kids; Sue is fifty, Jewish, and a recent empty nester; at thirty-two, Jayna defines herself as a “quasi-New Age, unhippie, pseudointellectual with skeptical tendencies and a secret supernatural bent.” Kids are not in her immediate future. We were all newbies to India while Nanci, our facilitator, was an expert.

We were women of all sizes, from skinny to full figured. We were women of all colors, from nearly translucent to luscious dark chocolate. We were women of all faiths and persuasions. At first blush you’d think we’d have nothing of importance in common. But in reality we possessed one critical, common bond.

We all knew that to live intentionally, we had to get out of the bus.

We knew that living with meaning wouldn’t be accomplished by watching life roll by as we looked through a window. And we all agreed that if we were to make a difference in our world, sometimes we were going to be uncomfortable. We knew that we could not be afraid to question and debate, to find answers. We knew we had to dig even to find the best questions.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)

For fourteen days I lived intentionally and dreamed dramatically with six insightful, daring strangers as we became more than life spectators. I was blessed to be among the India Seven who hit the ground running.

So what about you, girlfriend? Do you find yourself thriving or just surviving? Maybe it’s time for you to get off the bus too.

^a Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 356.