Outside My Own Little World

In my own little world it hardly ever rains.
I've never gone hungry and always felt safe.
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet.
In my own little world,
Population me.

As I have gotten older and as I have started seriously preparing for my mission, my love and compassion for people has grown tremendously. It's been kind of weird actually. I look at people with such a different perspective now. Instead of judging, I try to understand. Instead of criticizing, I try to see the good. When I walk passed a stranger, instead of looking passed them, I try to look them in the eyes and smile.

I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church.
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts.
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see.
It's easy to do when it's
population me

I have noticed that since I have started doing this I NOTICE people a lot more. There are so very many people in this world. And they all play an important role. They are all here for a purpose. When I look at someone as though they are a child of God and their life here has a plan, I tend to treat them differently. I treat them with the kindness and respect they need to be able to fulfill their potential. 

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose,
I could be living right now?
Outside my own little world.

Throughout my life I have experienced a fair share of pain and heartache. When hard times would hit, I would look else where to fill the empty spaces but the happiness I found was very fleeting and temporary. Last July I was at a point where I needed to make a change. I was at a moment where I, again, had two choices of how to deal with the pain I was feeling. I could either turn away or turn towards Christ. I decided that time to turn towards him. A mission had always been an option, but it was then that I thought more seriously about serving one. The past eight months since that decision have been some of the hardest months I have ever experienced. I have been faced with things I never thought I would have to face. I have overcome things I never thought I would have to overcome. I have had to make painful choices. I have had to change my way of thinking, my way of acting and my way of dealing with things. I have had to change my life. Through the pain and the changes I have also experienced the sweetest joy and most beautiful happiness. I never knew a person could feel so much happiness. I have received so many blessings. I have grown immensely. I am not the same person I was eight months ago. 

Stopped at the red light, looked out my window
Outside the car, saw a sign, said "Help this homeless widow"
Just above this sign was the face of a human

I thought to myself, "God, what have I been doing?" 

Now that I am on full track and full heartedly preparing to serve my mission, I look back and I am so grateful for the past eight months. I can see now that the people I encountered were there for a purpose. It showed me more that we all are here for each other. I don't believe anything is a coincidence. And I don't believe things happen by mistake. People are put in our lives for a reason and for a season. We have our agency to either embrace those people and learn all we can from them and grow as individuals or we can shut them out. I am so glad I decided to embrace the people in my life and learn all I could from them. I know I am a better person and more prepared for my mission and for the future because of that. 

So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye.
Oh how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through,
in my own little world now,
population two.

The pain and struggles I have gone through have opened up my heart more to the pain and struggles that others go through. And through opening my heart and eyes to the struggles of others my desire to serve them has increased. I'm not satisfied with sitting on the sidelines when there are people who I can reach out to. Whether I am reaching out with my hands or reaching out with just a smile. 

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now ?
Outside my own little world.

I am so incredibly excited to be on my mission because serving and helping others will be my life 24/7 for 18 months. I am excited to see the joy that the Gospel will bring to the lives it touches. I am excited to share my testimony of the light the Gospel has brought to my life and the purpose it has given me. And I feel prepared for the heartache I will experience out there as well. I have until August before I can start my papers and then I turn 21 in November so I know I will continue to learn and change and grow over these next months. But I know it will all be to help refine me into the person I need to be to better serve the people out there. 

Start breaking my heart for what breaks Yours.
Give me open hands and open doors.
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see,
that my own little world is not about me.

This is a big world filled with beautiful people. I hope all of you take time to step out of your own little worlds to notice those around you. Smile at a stranger. Say hi to those you walk passed. Take time to listen to someone. Look people in the eyes. Try to view others through Christ's eyes. 

Make that change so you can be a change. 


What if there's a bigger picture? 
What if I'm missing out? 
What if there's a greater purpose that I could be living right now?
I don't want to miss what matters. I want to be reaching out. 
Show me the greater purpose, so I can start living right now. 
Outside my own little world. 

Have a whimsical Wednesday ya'll!

The song I quoted is this one. "My Own Little World" by Matthew West.