Familiar Faces of Strangers

I love Austin, TX. It is, without a doubt, my favorite place in the world. I grew up going there in the summer and on holidays because we have family there, and then I lived there for 5 years after I graduated from college. It's a part of me. It's in my veins. I could write a whole blog post on WHY Austin is awesome, but I'll save that for another day.

Two of my favorite things about ATX: Hula Hut and these girls! 

It's been almost 4 years since I have moved from my beloved city, but every time I go back I'm flooded with memories of friends, family, food, and moments that grew my faith. I was able to go to Austin this past weekend and happened to drive past my old apartment complex. As I sat at a stoplight at the intersection where I used to start my daily jog, I was reminded of something I wrote back in 2006 and had posted to my Myspace (So old-school, right?!). I thought I would share again.

***Monday, August 14, 2006 

There is a street next to my apartment complex that I like to run on in the evenings after work. It is a nice street with beautiful houses, parks, a school, a swimming pool, tennis courts, neatly trimmed grass, and sidewalks. I like to watch the sun set as I am running. I like to unwind from the events of the day. I love to talk to God.

But, a thought occurred to me tonight as I ran and saw the familiar faces of strangers who also enjoy the same street every evening. There is the mom with her daughter and two dogs. There are the two Asian women who are probably best friends and look forward to their evening walk to talk about their day. There is the woman who doesn't smile. There is the old man who walks with a cane and looks down the whole time. There is the guy with the iPod who runs in the street. There is the girl who is probably about my age but she always runs on the opposite side of the street from me.

These people are strangers to me but for some reason I get comfort in the fact that I see them night after night and I miss them if one of them isn't there. In a world where nothing is constant, nothing stays the same, promises are broken, people divorce, children are abandoned, plans get canceled, people fall away from their faith, people lose their jobs, etc...it is nice sometimes to have familiarity. It is comforting when something stays the same. Change can be good...how else would we grow, but I think we were made to find comfort in consistancy, in faithfulness, in something we can depend on. Where we mess up is failing to remember that God is the ONLY thing in our life that we can truly count on. He is the only one who will ALWAYS show up. He never fails us. He is ALWAYS faithful...despite our unfaithfulness. 

I don't know if the people I see on that street every night miss me when I'm not there but I hope that they do know what it feels like to have something constant in their lives. Something unchanging. Something that actually lasts forever...and find rest for their souls. ***
 

The place I started my run every day.

Its been 8 years since I wrote that and it continues to hold true. So much in my life has changed since 2006, but my God remains the same. I have moved, got married, and had a baby. I have changed jobs, some of my opinions, and even my hair color. Relationships that I thought were solid and marked by unconditional love have been broken. And new and unexpected friendships with some of the most amazing people have begun. I have gone through a dark time in my life of bondage, deep anxiety, and fearfulness but come out on the other side victorious. Recently, "It's cancer" is something I hear way too often coming from the mouths of loved ones.

But through it all, God has been an anchor for my soul.

He is sovereign, holy, mighty, good, faithful, and merciful.

Always.

I don't know what storms you may be facing or what changes lie ahead but I do know that we have a firm foundation to stand on and a shelter to take refuge. May we fix our eyes on Jesus. The only sure thing. The only thing that will not change in an ever changing world.

Hold fast to Him. He is holding fast to you.

Love Always,

Cara