My Expectations And The Truth

A Letter From The Editor - Huami Magazine Jan./Feb. 2022

I would have to say that I grew up poor by worldly standards. I never felt like it because my mother constantly poured unconditional love into my other siblings and me. Her love wouldn’t allow me to focus on what I didn’t have or anything I could be missing. However, as life happened, I realized that when compared to others, my experiences were more complex. Even still, I had the opportunity to overcome them.

One of the most important things I learned from my upbringing is the truth will always override my expectations. The very first car that I owned, I purchased for myself. It wasn’t a new vehicle, but it was mine. It had a few dents, and the tires didn’t match either. The heat or air conditioning didn’t work, and the exhaust pipe would shake like a leaf when I started the car, probably because it was being held in place by the wiring of a clothes hanger. With all of its imperfections, my car was a beauty in my sight, and I was very appreciative to own it.

Though it seemed like I drove that car for all eternity, it only survived one year with me. I didn’t keep gas in the fuel tank, and I never changed the oil either. I drove it fast, and on cold mornings I didn’t allow for it to warm up. Rarely did I bathe it or even provide routine or preventative maintenance, and before I knew it, my first and only method of transportation slowed down and shut off in the middle of the road.

See, I expected my car to run forever, but the truth is I never did anything to ensure that it would. I expected it to go when I needed it to but never considered the impact my thoughtless and erratic treatment would have on it. I expected to ride forever, but the truth is I never invested in my cars’ future.

I’m saying that we will only get out of life what we put into it. How will we ever expect to know God if we never spend time with Him? My goal in life is to win. For this to happen, I must be willing to do what is necessary to win and align myself with what is true, which is God’s expectations.