On living the good life. (AKA, I'm so selfish)

I had lunch with my dear friend Rieta yesterday, and we were talking about my life. I can't remember exactly what she'd asked, but I was telling her about my routine (I'm obviously boring to have a lunch date with!) ... that every night I make myself a big cup of ice water, and turn on my heating pad, and have everything just so, and she observed that it sounded very selfish. And it's true, here in America, and especially in my type of situation, my rarely is our life about serving others if sacrifice is involved.

(I think this is different, though not all together untrue when you become a parent and suddenly you can't just sleep in, or go for a run, or (fill in the blank.) )

That's part of the reason I'm so excited about this trip. I hope it will completely shake my reality, and help define some of my direction, and help me be more devoting to serving others. I hope to be in a position to have people over more often again and hope that I do in fact practice more hospitality. Sometimes cooking for someone or letting them sit on your couch can be such a great service. I really want to be someone who's remembered for those types of characteristics.

With that said, there are a lot of things I take advantage of without giving thanks everyday. For example:
Kroger a quarter of a mile away.
Blow dryers
Pavement, and heels to walk on it.
Mascara
A safe place to live.
Bank accounts
Texting.
Facebook.
Carry-out.
Cold Beer.
A bed.
A bike.
Art.

... You get the point.

But what I know from past experience is that it's rarely the-ways-I-go-in-expecting-to-grow-in that I leave understanding. Usually it's a blindspot that I've never noticed I have that Christ suddenly makes hugely obvious.

Anyhow, this conversation was really obvious, when you think about it. As Americans, and as a single woman, I know that my life is pretty cushy, but having someone talk through it with me was needed and appreciated. It makes me reconsider my complaining ways, thats for sure.

The whole point of this was that, I'm excited for how much Haiti will bring this more to light for me.