My Top Priority

Although this is almost a reiteration of the last post, there's a story to tell.

I was cleaning out my "inbox" that sits on my desk, collecting random papers and piles of things. Some papers I put in my planner, others got recycled to the family's scrap paper drawer, while others got chucked. But guess what was at the bottom of this pile of progress reports, school assignment, random notes jotted down to myself, grad pictures, etc.?

My last month's Daily Bread.

It had been missing for some time, but I had looked in all the places I thought it would be. Normally I like to read it before I go to bed or while brushing my teeth.

Does it hit you? At the bottom of the pile of my... life... I found it.

Not at the top. And it needs to be at the top. This morning I was talking for a long time with God and listening, and... being. Just sitting and thinking, meditating and being reminded, calling out and comforted. Some times I feel like I'm talking to myself, but perseverance always pays off.

I opened my Bible to Acts, wanting to hear some stories of what the apostles had done, empowered by Him, in the beginning of their ministry. And a few verses in, I found it:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be made my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere -- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 - NLT)


It was underlined. I had memorized it before. But it hit me with a new force.

Right now, I am a witness in Jerusalem, in my home town, right where I'm comfortable.

This summer, I'm going to be a witness in Judea, up north in my province, my area, a little bit more out of my comfort zone.

Next year, I'm a witness in Samaria, a little farther away, a "country" away, in Saskatchewan.

And the year after that, hopefully, I'm going to be a witness to the ends of the earth as I head back overseas with my family to tutor a missionary family's kids for a year.

But right now.. I am a witness here, right now. In the midst of stress and a piled on school schedule (partly the fault of my own procrastination), I am called to fulfill my duty as a witness, for Him, here, to finish it well, and not to put it in last place.

Maybe that's why I feel peace, as I sit here, blogging at 10:00 at night, having worked from right after school until 6, and then "tutored" (code: caught up with, was encouraged, had fun, and did *some* math) with a friend until 9:15, and then chatted with friends of FB and did a little bit of homework up until now.

I don't know what the balance is. But years from now, people are not going to remember my name if I receive stellar marks... they're going to remember my personality, my attitude, my witness.

What's your priority today?