Intentional

Something about that word stood out to me when she said it.

I think it’s because I haven’t been being intentional here in Italy. And it’s a word I normally use to describe myself in America. I’m intentional with my relationships, my time, food, working out, my time with the Lord. And people know that about me.

But the first few weeks in Italy felt like drowning. Like you are just trying to stay afloat and waiting for the next wave to crash over you.

UI imagine it like surfing. You’re all excited on a sunny day to take your surfboard out into the water. This is the day you’re going to do it. You run into the waves and hold tight to your board and start paddling. At first it’s fun and exhilarating. The water splashing your face.

Then they get stronger. And it takes all your energy and muscle to hold on to the board. To paddle faster and harder. The waves are now crashing in your face, there’s salt in your eyes and nose and mouth. You even have to dive under the water when a bigger wave comes. Feeling it pull you back and waiting to come up again for air. And it feels like all you are doing is holding on and trying to breathe.

That’s the first few weeks of a new culture. Hang on because you are in the waves.

But their comes a point in surfing where you catch a break. You are beyond the crash of the waves. You can finally come up for air. And now you can turn your board and face the shore. You can watch the horizon looking for the next one. Not to paddle against it, now you are ready to paddle with it. It’s time to surf.

That’s where I’m at. I caught the break. I’m looking at the shore and I’m riding to catch the wave of Italy and surf. I’m ready to be intentional again. I’m not drowning.