The 20s--The Years of Ant Watching

I am almost 24. Life moves faster than I feel like we breathe. There are days when I wake up and sometimes feel like I need to double-check myself in the mirror to make sure I did not grow 10 years older without realizing it.

In high school, those were those tender and dramatic years where adults told us to embrace those times because they are precious and we will never get them back. And that I agree with. That is true. However, I am now beginning to feel that way about this decade of my life. The "Roaring Twenties" I guess you could say.

For some, I think the reason that this age in life is difficult for different reasons. But the common reasons found are listed below in questions we are asked:
  If you have graduated college and you are dating someone, when are you getting engaged? Married?
  What do you want to do now? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  You're single? So do you want to date anyone? (people ask funny questions)
  Do you like your job?
  Do you have a job? Where have you applied?

Breathe in, no pressure.

But I think with every new decade of our lives, they could be gift wrapped with another load of questions. I am sure the 30s will be more questions about investments and finance, children, soccer games, jobs, book clubs (this is a guess...OK, I take it back. I don't think I will ever be in a book club. But for some, this holds merit). But who knows? I let you know about this decade when I get there. But for now, I rest on the threshold of the 24th year of my wonderful life.

The more conversations I have with my friends about our lives, the more I am moved to a peace about uncertainty. A peace in knowing that I am exactly where I need to be for now, even though I have no idea as to why. My purpose will always be the same:

Live with joy in knowing that He has placed me to love those around me, despite my location or job.
Live with joy in knowing that life is too short this side of heaven to experience the pain and worry of not knowing.
Live with joy in knowing that each day is new. Each day is different. Each breath is another chance for something more in this life.
Live with joy in knowing that even though I do not know much, I can love much.

To sum it all up, I think one of my old campers once put it all into perspective. I worked at a summer camp for 5 summers. My first summer, I was a counselor for 10-11 year old girls. One day it was miserably hot and it was the 7th week of the summer. I was sitting on the deck of the cabin waiting for all of the girls to go to our next activity. I sat down on the bench, exhausted and tired of not knowing what was going on with my life. I put my face in hands and stared at the ground of the wooden deck. There was a line of ants that drew my attention and I honed in on their journey. As I was intently watching this, Morgan, one of the funniest campers I have ever met, sat down next to me. She put her arm around me and then said, "Hey, Steph. It's OK.You know what? Sometimes I like to look at the ants too." She then directed her eyes to the line of ants and sat there with me and we watched the ants.

So hey, life is good. Even if you don't know what is next, it's OK to watch the ants.

-S