where we're going and where we've been.

the first image is likely more recognizable to many of you than the second. this shot of downtown wheaton represents so much of where i think jason and i are coming from. we come from very loving and very involved families who have and would do anything for us. we come from a place of security, in which we have always had what we needed, and more often that not what we wanted. our faith was instilled and fostered since childhood, and continues to shape our minds and hearts today. our life paths have been relatively "easy", nothing we couldn't walk through without our family, friends and God carrying us through.

the second image struck me the first time i saw it. yes, as you may have guessed, it's a shot of san pedro sula at night. i was struck by the chaos that seems to be everywhere. cars, pedestrians, bright signs, no clearly evident traffic flow. from my previous experiences in large (international) cities, this was also the case. every city has it's own personality, and it's only with time that one can learn it. most captivating to me though was the dim street light, shining ever so boldly in the midst of it all. it's there for you whether you think about it or not, lighting your path as you navigate the uncertain routes ahead.

as i have taken a few moments this week to be still in the presence of God, i read through much of 2 Corinthians and was drawn to the references about light. 2 Corinthians 4: 6-7: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

we have been granted so powerful a gift, the presence of God in our lives, which has the potential to shine like a bright beacon of hope to those around us. just as that one single light post lit the busy streets of honduras, God's presence wants to light up the brokenness and chaos that is our lives (aka: jars of clay), and draw others into relationship with Himself. if nothing else, our prayer is that the light that He has already shown in our hearts would burn brighter and stronger because of our time living in Honduras.