Finding "Chazown"...

Sunday's church service was a bitter sweet one for me. Bitter...because the thought of being with out my closest friend in OKC for the next two months left my heart really heavy. Sweet because the thought of my friend finding the chazown for her life made the heaviness bearable. Chazown is the Hebrew word for "vision." After several months of considering, and a solid month of prayer, Sunu A has decided that next Sunday, she will embark on a 2 month journey to India devoting herself to orphan care. She will be headed to Bangalore to stay in an orphanage, work with children who were born into brothels, teaching in a VBS with over 600 children, and doing what God has always intended for her to do with her life.

You know you have found a lifetime friend, when someone knows your weaknesses and doesn't judge you for them...and knows your strengths and reminds you of them when you forget. This is exactly what Sunu and I have in each other. We've seen each other through the worst of times...and the best. And, this is definitely the best of times for her. Never have I seen her more happy and excited about life. This is only because God gave her this vision and He has finally brought it to pass. It's been awesome to see her through this journey. I only wish I could join her in India and watch her in her element...but I'll definitely be waiting to hear all about it when she gets back.

Sunu and I had a chance to chat on Friday over a cup of coffee..and I started to tell her about the book that Sheryl has let me borrow, called "Chazown." It's an amazing book that talks about God's vision for your life and it helps you discover and live out your purpose. I started to point out to her that although we always dawg on her...okok, although I always dawg on her about her fob tendencies...(the fluent malayalam, the malayalam singing, the adoration of all things indian), it's really obvious to me now that God created her with a passion and love for India for a reason...because all along He knew that He would use her there. I think that's so amazing.

Often we overlook things about ourselves or just consider them quirks...but we are uniquely and perfectly made for a reason! Siby and Jason have also discovered their chazown. I listened to both cds this weekend, and they are absolutely amazing. I'm just in awe of how anointed these young men are...and their cds are nothing short of beautiful.

All three of these individuals have made me really consider my own chazown...I know that God has a purpose for me...and even in my unfaithfulness, he has opened doors to use me. My writing is far from prolific...but, I know that it is my purpose. We often try to be modest and downplay our talents...but to downplay our talents is to misuse God's gifts. Each of us have something unique within us...either it's something we do (sing, write, dance, act, paint)...or just the way we are (loving, caring, organizers, prayer warriors, humanitarians, loyal friends)...often times these things are overlooked...but if we submit ourselves to God...completely...He can do great and mighty things through us.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm so tired of waking up every morning and thinking "there must be more than this." I want to live my life according to my purpose...I want to be fulfilled knowing that the things I do day in and day out matter...they are impacting someone's life...I want to come to a point in my life where my past makes sense...because it has made me who I am in the present...and my future is full of hope because I'm living according to God's vision for my life.

My chazown has been revealed...now, the hard part...living it.