We made it to Jaco, Costa Rica!! Our home for this month is NICE! Probably one of the nicest we will stay at during the World Race and we are soaking it in and feeling GRATEFUL!
The days getting here were filled with a lot of seemingly small and unimportant things. A couple of us woke Tuesday morning early and got covid tests. We swept the floor. We walked laps up and down an airport killing time during a layover. We sat on buses.
When we finally got to Costa Rica at 4AM we slept. We woke up and drank coffee and ate eggs. A few of us went to a Costa Rican grocery store where we shopped for 34 people in our house. An interesting experience. We sat and listened to some history and some stories of the ministry site we are living at this month. We saw the beach and the sunrise was beautiful! I looked for an ATM and didn’t find one. Some of us cooked spaghetti for the house, then we ate the spagehtti, sitting at crowded tables full of conversation.
Topic switch.
I love ants and I always have. I think that God uses ants to show me more of His kingdom. It’s happened quite a few times, people! Today, as I sat outside eating my two slicer lunch meat sandwich, a friend pointed out some ants walking on a wall. My favorite! If you stayed still and looked, you could see a whole colony (is that what it’s called???) of ants marching across the wall. Each ant boasted a leaf held high above its head, and they walked one after the other to some location that only they knew. This ever moving procession of ants continued the entire length of my lunch and probably much longer. Ants are powerful and bursting with intention.
Something inside ants tells them what to do and where to be. They follow a voice inside them that gives them purpose to every step they take. Their purpose is to provide for their colony.
It is preprogrammed in an ant by their Creator to spend their days living intentionally for each other. So uhhhhh, that’s why ants do the things they do, why do I do the things I do in a day?
Lets take it back to the top of this little story. Is it possible that I could grocery shop, and ride a bus, and cook dinner, and locate an ATM with intention and purpose? Is it possible to glorify God while doing those everyday things? I think so. I don’t think anything in our lives is wasted.
If the Creator of the universe put purpose into the steps of a tiny ant, why is it so hard to believe that our lives have a purpose as well? Even the everyday things can point us to God.
Maybe I’m hungry every day so God can remind me of my dependence on Him? Maybe eating can be praise? I sit in a cold bus to take me somewhere I want to go. Maybe riding a bus can be praise? I take a shower because I’m sweaty and have a body that functions. Maybe taking a shower can be praise?
This week I’m trying to look at the “small” things in my life as smaller pieces of Gods greater puzzle. The puzzle isn’t complete without us and the little moments in our lives. I think looking at things with that view gives me the freedom to see small things as joys. I’m far from perfect with this practice but I’m working towards letting my little pieces of life glorify His kingdom.
Do you believe that even the small moments of your life maybe aren’t meant to glorify you, but to point you to the Creator?
Loved this Courtney and I can attest to you fascination with watching and thinking about ants. I remember that outside service at church where you watched them the whole time and of course the Ant book you published! So glad to hear from you. Love you!
Loved the update Court! So glad to hear you all finally made it…I just googled Jaco Costa Rica & my is it beautiful! So many of us living vicariously through you right now! I’m sure it feels great to be able to finally travel & see a beach!! How fun!
Loved what you shared about the ants, I have never thought of it that way & loved your insight. I have been trying to remember to see all of Gods goodness in the little moments of my day so this was such a great reminder to let everything be a praise! I will remember your words going into my week! Thanks for your heart & sharing! Looking forward to the many more newsletters to come! They are so fun to read esp during a time where travel seems so foreign!:) ?? praying for you and your group!
Man, I’m gonna have to pull up a bowl of popcorn reading these articles. So much to unpack, but in particular, the precise details in God’s kingdom makes me wonder what I need to shift more focus towards. Ya know? The daily tasks that slide under your nose like eating or commuting. “How does THIS glorify God?”
Anyways Court, glad to hear things are goin well! Keep this energy!
Courtney, this is so beautifully written! You have showed me more of God’s face today. Your intentionality in the praise and glorification of the Lord is something I admire. Thank you for pointing out that we don’t have to do things by the world’s standards, because we are “preprogrammed” by the Lord with a purpose. What a treat to hear your “voice”. I miss you already and am praying for you! Love you my sweet friend
Thanks for your encouragement, I’m glad it was a relatable truth! It is totally beautiful here and I feel so grateful to be in this place!
More to come, get the popcorn popping lol, thanks Travis! Sometimes it is hard to figure out where to look for more!
You are too kind! I’m learning and glad to share it, love love love you friend!
I do like a good ant here and there.