One Day at a Time

When I first began learning Spanish in 9th grade there was a song that my teacher played for us. It was the first Christian song I learned in Spanish. It wasn’t my usual style of music but the words stuck in my head. When I went off to college, I would find myself wandering around campus alone, quietly singing the words of the song. Usually on days when life felt particularly tough or uncertain. Then I left for the mission field. Once again, this same song carried me through the days when the only certain thing seemed to be uncertainty about what the future would hold. This past week I traveled to a small town about 3 hours outside of Oaxaca City. While there, I attended a church service of about 20 people. Many songs were sang, but there was one in particular that encouraged my heart…Un Día a La Vez. And, as you’ve probably guessed already, it’s that same song that has been with me since I first began this journey of trusting the Lord to lead me to unknown places, to learn an unknown language, and immerse myself in an unknown culture.

The title of this song is the name of my blog. It’s the subject of at least two other posts I have written. And as I write about it today I am reminded that it’s so much more than a catchy tune or a happy coincidence that keeps popping up in my life. It’s the greatest lesson God has taught me. Uncertainty is perhaps the greatest tool he has used to grow my faith in Him. I have often chosen unconventional paths. And it hasn’t been easy. Saying yes to the things I have mean saying no to many other things that to human eyes look better.

At times I have wondered if it’s worth it. If living in uncertainty is a mistake. Or a sign that I am doing something wrong. Most people aren’t quite able to put me into a pre-existing category based on experience. Am I a missionary? A student? A teacher who just likes to travel? The reality is I have more often than not chosen to take the road less traveled. And that confuses people. Sometimes it worries them that I live without certain ‘necessities’ (I have learned along the way that what we deem necessary is often very relative and for many would be a luxury). And on more than one occasion I have been offered other opportunities that from a financial or social standpoint seem good. But as much as I pray about those good opportunities that sometimes present themselves, I never quite feel that they are right.

But what I have found is that the longer I embrace the unknown and truly learn to trust in Christ to live one day at a time, the deeper my sense of joy and love grow. And rather than feeling lost or afraid, I find myself more and more focused on the purposes he has for me, and less distracted by my own pursuits of success or comfort. Where I once felt the need to have a well thought out plan and to be understood by others, I have now learned to trust that he will provide and that wherever he leads me will hold joys far greater than those I leave behind. When I live my life one day at time, each and every day holds its own value and beauty. I am able to live in and enjoy the present rather than worry over what has been or will be. And I am able to live my life faithful to Him, even if it looks a little strange to everyone else.

So once again, here’s to trusting Him, un día a la vez. Because truly, it has been and will continue to be the best thing I could ever do with this life he has given me. And I am so very grateful that He has allowed me to grow in my knowledge and love of Him as each day goes by.

One day at a time, My God,

is what I am asking of you.

Give me the strength to live

One day at a time.

Yesterday is gone, My God,

And tomorrow perhaps will not come.

Help me today,

I want to live, one day at a time.

My translation of a couple of verses of the song. 🙂

Un Día a La Vez

Some of you may be wondering, “Why is the title of her blog in Spanish, if she’s going to Kenya?” Well, funny story, they’re not at all related. BUT, let me tell you the story of where I got ‘Un Día a la Vez.’ It’s a fairly popular Spanish hymn. My favorite lines say, “un día a la vez, Dios mío, es lo que pido de ti, dame la fuerza, para vivir un día a la vez.” In English, it says “One day at a time, My God, is all I can ask of you. Give me the strength to live one day at a time.” I first heard this song my freshman year of high school in my Spanish One class. I remembered it because I really liked the tune. It stuck with me, and I found myself singing it quite often through my first two years of college. It came to be the song I sung on those days that were a little more difficult to get through.

You see, I always grew up knowing where I was going. I’ve wanted to go to Carolina at least since 6^th grade. I even knew that I wanted to major in Marine Biology, go to grad school for four years, and move to a beautiful beach somewhere to save all the incredible marine animals! There’s been little doubt in my life about where I’d be in 5 or 10 years, until now. Here I am, sitting in my dorm room and I’m halfway through with my 4 years of undergraduate school. But the difference is that I have no idea where I am going. This past semester, God threw me a curveball, so to speak. When the school year started, I was enrolled in an upper level marine science course and organic chemistry. By the time the first month of school went by, I dropped both. Why? I could say that they were not what I am interested in, that they were too difficult with my schedule, or that I planned to pick them back up the next semester-and all of those things would be true. But in reality, I realized that maybe my plan for my life wasn’t God’s plan. Getting a PhD in marine biology sounds awesome, and I have no doubt that it would be. But 8 years of school means 8 years of loans. And 8 years of loans means who knows how many years of working to pay them off. Long story short, I realized that my plan wasn’t just part of my life; it was going to be the thing that consumed my life. And it didn’t leave much room for God.

The hardest part of all this is that I didn’t just change my plans, I gave them up. For the first time in my life, I feel like I am learning to wholly trust God with my future, even when I have no clue what my future is. Truly trusting God one day at a time is one of the most difficult things to do, because I have to constantly remind myself that He is in control. But it has also given me more peace and joy than I have ever had about the present.

I’m still taking marine science classes, but I don’t foresee 3+ years of grad school and a life of saving the oceans ahead of me. In fact, I don’t really know what I see ahead of me. All I know is that I am double majoring in Biology and Hispanic Linguistics (which is just a fancy way of saying Spanish), and that I’m open to go to wherever God calls me. And the crazy thing is, that’s okay! I know that God will reveal His plans for me, Un Día a la Vez.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” -Matthew 6:34