I hope it's no where I had imagined

I visited my family this past weekend and at my departure found myself refreshed.  I knew I would.  Home just does that to me. 

I had no intention of falling in love in the summer of 2008.  I began to run nearly every morning as the sun was rising through the highest trees of the greenbelts in my hometown of Kingwood.  The trees hugged the trail and the birds were the accompaniment to my dancing feet.  Silence and peace overwhelmed me from every side.  I fell in love with the beauty of nature and the sun on my face.  The run became a part of my spiritual journey and I physically felt the presence of God.   

Needless to say I was anticipating a run at home.  God met me there just as I had felt Him before and he romanced me amidst nature's sweet smells.  As soon as I stepped foot on the trail memories flooded my mind.  I passed my middle school and elementary school.  I remembered many old friends, recess, times at the creek, my first year in choir, first love, moments of great sadness and moments of extreme joy. 

My life now is nothing I had imagined then.  I love that.  God's sovereign plan gives me hope.  It motivated me to get back on the trail and reflect on the road that brought me to where I am today.  The road I've already traveled excites the journey ahead.  The unknown can be uncomfortable but the more I stay out of my comfort zone the more I let God do the planning. The more beautiful my life is becoming. There is so much sweetness in not knowing the plan for our lives.  If it's always the destination we imagine we would never feel excitement, gratitude, or experience the joy of realizing that God sees so much more in us than we see in ourselves.

I am both expecting and hoping for a new chapter in the near future.  On the last run of my trip I wondered of the next time I arrive on the trail and where I will be then.   
I hope it's no where I had imagined.