The NOVA Experience: Week 10

When someone asks you how you've been doing, I've realized the worst thing you can say is, "okay." Not good, not bad, just okay. Everyone hates lukewarm water. It's not hot, not cold, it's like a confused child. For a while, I had become content with life. Cruise control mode. I left hangouts with friends happy, but an empty happiness that confused me on my drives back home. When I worked at church, I said the right things and felt good about it temporarily, but it didn't fulfill me. While serving tables, I put on a smile and carried energy out of necessity, but behind that smile was exhaustion. How was I feeling exactly? Eh, just okay.

The cliche that one must experience the lows to appreciate the highs is a true one. It's better to feel something genuine at the least, even if it stinks. When you hit the dumps, let it humble you, then seize the energy to trust in the Lord and get through it. When you reach the highs, let it soak in and appreciate the moment for what it is, God's blessing. 

I went on a hike this past Wednesday and I exchanged life stories with a friend of mine. After sharing mine, I forgot my own unique life rollercoaster. You don't remember the boring straight lines, you remember the highlights when thinking of your past. God had built me up to this point to be the guy I am today through trials and blessings. It's the only way to get through our thick human skulls. After coming to this realization, I found that I wasn't doing okay, because lukewarm is the worst. I dug deeper into my own heart and saw it in all its ugliness: pride, selfishness, ego, self-reliance. The same vices I've struggled with my whole life. God completely humbled me, saying, "I have EVERYTHING to offer YOU, YOU have NOTHING to offer ME." I was blown away in a seemingly uneventful point in my life on a normal Wednesday. It's these moments that God fortifies your faith. 

When feeling stagnant, snap out of it and look deeper into the muck. Complacency is a facade to the real stuff, your heart is simply not ready to accept it, blinded by pride. Heart check, always.

Stay Grounded,

Will Cheon