Monday, July 12, 2010

These Stories Don't Mean Anything...

There is a song by Brandi Carlile called “The Story” that I absolutely love. The song speaks deeply to my heart because I feel like I can relate to almost every line; she talks about how she has lived through highs and lows, how she has traveled across the world, and how she feels like there is only one person in the world that really knows her. She confesses, “It’s true, I was made for you.”

I am only 22, but I have lived an incredible life, thus far. I, like all people, have vivid memories of the highs and lows of my life (most of my low points were awkwardly lived in those glorious years between 13 and well, last week?). Also, I have had the opportunity to travel and live abroad, making memories that will stay in my heart forever. And I have experienced the truth that there is only one person in my life that knows the depths of my heart: Jesus.

You might have another name come to mind, maybe your spouse or a family member, or even a close friend. And while I have many family members and friends who make my “most trusted” list, it is undeniable that God knows me better than anyone else. Out of every adventure I have ever had, He has been right there with me. In fact, my life story wouldn’t make much sense without Him in it. If you know me at all, hopefully you agree when I sing along with Brandi, “It’s true, I was made for You.”

So I, a single, 22-year-old, newly graduated woman who is trying to figure out how to make a mark on the world, decided to start here: on a blog. If I want my life to be worth anything substantial, I know it will be because I shared it with others. After all, didn’t Jesus spend His whole life trying to teach us this simple truth?

A few years ago, while I was living in Argentina for a summer, I had the opportunity to go horseback riding through the foothills of the Andes Mountains. I spent a few silent hours that day, just taking in God’s beauty and singing Him songs in my head. And while I loved every minute of the adventure, all I could think about was who I wanted to share the experience with.

Like the song says, “Stories don’t mean anything, when you’ve got no one to tell them to.” So if you don’t mind, I think I’ll tell my stories to you.