LIFE happens.

Life happens wherever you are, and you have the opportunity daily to participate in life or miss out on something great, something beautiful, something powerful.

Whether caught up in busyness or free to do with your day (almost) whatever you want, you can choose death…or you can choose life. It might be a significant decision, it might be in something small, or maybe it isn’t even your choice in some moments…like the day I was born.

Death or life.

Today is Mother’s Day, and I could not be more honored to have the mother that I have, Debra Lynne Walkemeyer. She risked her life and almost died for me, I was dead and brought back to life. Only a great woman full of love, compassion, mercy, and grace would give up so much for someone she had yet to meet…Thank you Mama. I could not have more respect and love for such a God-fearing, powerful, humble, creative, gracious, unique, beautiful, well-spoken, and big-hearted woman. You amaze me daily. She is someone who always chooses life. I hope to be more like her.

Life or death.

There are so many people around me in Costa Rica and at home that are models of walking death. Some of them are followers of Christ, yet are slowly dying by their choice to live in their fears, their failures, the things that slowly choke and suffocate them. I am not immune. Then there are those that do not have a relationship with Jesus and are living in two kinds of death, death on a daily basis, and eternal death.

Being in Costa Rica has opened my eyes to the reality of life and death in a new way. Prior to coming here there were things in my own life that were leading me toward death. I was trapped in fear, negativity, mistrust, pride, individualism, and much more. Although I am surely not completely free of those things, being in Esterillos with the Leon’s has opened my eyes to the prevalence of these issues and forced me to face them in a restorative way. It has caused me to see how although having the hope of life everlasting, my life on daily basis has looked more like death.

As followers of Christ we are called to set an example by word and by deed, to live a life worthy of our calling. What does this mean? Living a full life, embracing the freedom that we have been given through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and sharing that (usually) without words in the way we express our love for God and our love for people, and our humble service to both.

It is truly amazing to me how full, free, and rich my life is here in Costa Rica. My days are consumed with the youth hanging out at the house, reading books for school that are so informative (and being able to really learn from them), spending more time in prayer and in the word, having natural, life-giving conversations about life and ministry, surfing, being creative, and enjoying the glorious nature that surrounds me…and all done in community.

I am having fun here. I am growing here. I am relaxed here. I am free here.
THIS IS LIFE.
I want to live free.
I want to live.
I choose to live.

Will you join me?
I dare you.