In just over twenty four hours, I’ll be entering a new decade of my life. Before I do, I wanted to share something I’ve learned in my twenties that has been one of the most valuable lessons of my life. In a day and age where social media, peer pressure, societal norms, and familial expectations try to influence our thinking and have us comparing our stories to one another, I want to emphasize that it is so important to fully embrace your story and not try to live out someone else’s story. When we fully embrace our own stories, we get to experience so much joy, joy that can easily be missed.
So many of us easily pursue the expectations of others, our peers, society, that we miss out on what we are called to do. We become dissatisfied with our story because we are comparing our story to others or what once again, others, our peers, society, tells us our lives are supposed to look like.
If you had told me a decade ago, when I was getting ready to enter my twenties, that I would still be single and independently living on my own, I would have asked to trade places with someone else. But what twenty year old me didn’t know is that my twenties would be filled with adventures and experiences of a lifetime. In my twenties, I would meet friends that would change my life for the better. I would travel to eleven countries, have hiking adventures in some of the most beautiful parts of the world, road trip all over the United States, and have my worldview expanded with the introduction to so many different cultures that are far different from my own. I would write and publish four books. I would read hundreds of new books and start a literary podcast with new friends. I would work my dream job as a writer and get cool opportunities in my career to be on production and see the behind the scenes of how all that storytelling magic is made. And while all of this has been wonderful, and I don’t take any of it for granted, for I have been privileged to live the life that I do, none of it compares to the greatest gift of all.
While I am thankful for every opportunity, experience, trip, adventure, and many gift from above, what I am thankful for the most is that in my twenties, I came to know God in a deeper, more intimate way, discovering that the greatest gift of all is His daily invitation to just abide with Him. I was sharing with our young adults last night that the purpose of all our lives is to know Christ better and to make Christ known. That is why we are here. That is why humanity exists. I’ve mentioned this in some of my most recent posts, but every day of our lives we can know Christ better and make Him known… through art, through music, through a conversation with a friend, through the incredible unique gifts that God has given each of us, in ways we never imagined. To have discovered this purpose for my life in my twenties has been the greatest adventure and the greatest blessing of all.
While my twenties were also filled with a lot of painful chapters, it was in those chapters that I would find strength, courage, and a faith that would center me when nothing else could. Whether you are young and still in your twenties or whether you have a few more decades under your belt, I want to remind both you and I that it is so important that we fully embrace our stories and stop trying to compare our stories to one another. When we get caught in the trap of comparison, we miss the blessing of what is right in front of us.
I have had many a conversation with a young person in their early twenties who has told me that they don’t want to travel or go do certain things until they are married. And my advice to them is always this: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for a spouse to do life with. If you are reading this today and you are married, I want to encourage you today, too. Don’t live in the chapter you are currently living in, wishing for the next. You will miss so much of your life if you do.
While I long to get married and have a family of my own one day, what I want most of all is to live fully in the present, daily surrendering my life into God’s hands, and letting Him open all the right doors for my life, just as He has done over and over again in the last decade of my life. Frustration and anger in my life has always been rooted in a place that has failed to place my expectations for my life in the hands of God.
Wherever you are at in life’s journey, I hope you find joy in the everyday and come to realize that even if life isn’t what you thought it would look like, this very day is such a gift, a gift that is not meant to be wasted. Yesterday, I came across a very moving video that reminded me of this. It was from Rob Burrow, an English rugby legend who passed away earlier this week after a five year battle with MND. In the video, he simply said, “Whatever your personal battle, be brave and face it. Every single day is precious. Don’t waste a moment.” As I listened to Rob Burrow’s final words to all of us, all I could think was how much time we waste wishing for another day, season, chapter of our lives that may never come. Every single day is precious. Don’t waste a moment.
As I enter my thirties, I pray and hope to do a better job of this. I hope to live fully present and aware of each day as it comes. Every day, a miracle, yes. But also, every day, an absolute gift.
JM Books Co. 