After our recent journey, we find ourselves in Urla instead of Tbilisi. I often question why anyone would choose this unconventional lifestyle. I’ve read about bloggers and YouTubers who glorify the nomadic existence, working from ever-changing Airbnb desks, teaching English, making websites, doing marketing, and attending meetings to manage a farm thousands of miles away.
While this life is an adventure with its share of memorable moments, it can be overwhelming, especially with the constant exposure to new and sometimes unexpected foods, like the spicy surprise of a green pepper in Urla yesterday. Exploring unfamiliar landscapes and hearing unintelligible languages can be initially enjoyable, but it undeniably wears a person down.
Humans resist change by nature, yet growth often occurs when we’re pushed out of our comfort zones. I believe God intentionally removes us from our familiar surroundings to stretch, mold, and guide us toward personal development. We may embark on such journeys for various reasons—adventure, humanitarian goals, or providing hope to the lost—but ultimately, God’s purpose surpasses our own.
As I reflect, I acknowledge that I’m on this journey because my divine Father has placed me here for His purpose, not mine. His intention differs from my desire to change the world; instead, He seeks to transform me into a person aligned with His mind, heart, and values amid the chaos of a world overloaded with noise, color, and confusion.
In the midst of this kaleidoscope of change, I’m learning to pause, be still, wait, listen, and extract life’s lessons. The smaller I am, the larger He becomes; the weaker I am, the stronger His power manifests through me. The more I admit my limitations, the more He asserts, “I CAN.”
So, I confess that my childhood dream of traveling, influenced by role models like Jesus, Paul, and my Dad, might stem from a sense of normalcy. However, I’m realizing that my true motivation lies in walking this adventure, trusting and depending on my Father as my guide and protector along an often unknown, sometimes lonely, perhaps windy, cold, and rainy path—with occasional breathtaking sunsets and views.
