Keys

Every so often, someone will say something that echoes with me for years to come. As time passes, I keep finding myself coming back to little phrases - "keys" - that were given to me in my spiritually formative years. One that has held me fast lately is something that a friend spoke to me many years ago while on a missions trip to Monterrey, Mexico. He reminded me that "we are never changed in order to gain access to God's presence. Rather, it's in His presence that we are changed."

At the time, it was helpful and insightful, but certainly not worthy of "jaw-dropping-I-think-I-need-a-minute" awe or anything. But as time has gone by, those two simple sentences have been cooking in my spirit and have helped to dramatically shape who I am today. I'm sure my friend has no memory of speaking those words to me, but God snatched up those phrases like keys to His Kingdom and hung them on my heart. In my life there are many, many words like that; many glimpses of Wisdom that my brothers and sisters have given me over the years. It's nice to know that they'll be there when I need them the most - whether it's tomorrow, or perhaps ten years from now.