Right now, I’m sitting in an airport. Budapest is a city with history aplenty. It is characteristically old. It has stories great and small with no shortage of comings and goings. Including my own.

I’m about to get on a plane back to the US. Just a day more and perhaps the last six months will seem like a dream  more than a life-changing experience. But there’s more to it than that of course.

A side note: Perspective is one of those elusive things that sometimes makes me want to punch a wall. How do you get it? How do you keep it once you’ve got it? How do you know if it’s the right perspective? I’ve always been interested to know, so if you find out, do share. I have a sort of idea that it has something to do with Jesus.

The chattering of the people and the sound of footsteps clacking on the floor all around me gives me a glimpse of a sweet perspective. The reason why is that even in a place as busy as an airport full of people, all with their own story to tell, there is an inherent non-busyness in the quiet of a bearded dude typing away at his computer, sharing his own small story.

So, what is there to tell…?
What I have to tell is short. And it’s personal. Every true story is.

In June 2016, I got on a plane. Destination: Budapest, Hungary, with a short little drive to Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe in Vajta, Hungary. I was going there to participate in  A Vision For Life. AVFL was 40 days, 4 countries, and for me, a changed life through Jesus Christ. The program is designed with young adults in mind, to put them in an environment where growth would be brought about in their walks with Christ, to lead them in the way they should go, and catch the vision of God.

We did many things in those 40 days including (but not limited to) Bible classes, group activities, hanging out, and outreaches. We covered a nice little fistful of the Eastern side of Europe including Hungary (of course), Italy, Slovenia, and Austria. We shared the gospel and made fools of ourselves with no shame. It was one of the best times of my life.

…It was also one of the worst times of my life. I say that with caution because what I mean by it is subtle in nature. It was the best at the same time as being the worst because as He was molding and shaping me, He was doing some terribly uncomfortable remodeling in my heart. The lengths that the Lord will go to change a life is something I understand a little bit better now. It’s something I accept quite a bit more now. Sometimes pain is just pain if that’s all you make of it. But when Jesus is guiding through pain, pain means (and is) growing.

You see, I was under the impression that I was “doing well” in my relationship with Jesus. The truth, however, is that I was complacent and that didn’t worry me. I didn’t have much of a hunger for spiritual things although I knew that I should. I went solo and did things based on my desires and carried the ideal of a vision that was mine alone. Jesus had little to do with it.

So, in short, Jesus wrecked my life. A whole new meaning to the phrase, “Get Wrecked” has been introduced to me. He gave me the option of obeying or not. He asked me to let go of the things that I was holding onto very tightly. I didn’t have to say yes to Him. But I chose to, largely because He’s God and people should listen to Him. That’s pretty basic, and yet it’s one of the most complicated things in the world. But that’s only because we make it complicated. But more than that, I said yes because of the goodness and faithfulness that He had shown to me already.

So, because God is good, I chose to stay in Hungary for the Fall semester at CCBCE.

The semester was filled with many things that were much the same in nature and value as the AVFL program, albeit in a little bit of a different way. There were many things that were designed to pull people from their shells and I’m so thankful for it. I’m thankful that the Lord met me as He has always been faithful to do.

In the middle of that semester a friend of mine suggested the idea that I should use my music as a fundraiser for my tuition. And while I do plan to go back to Hungary and while I do hope that my music will help with my financial needs, my vision for it has become so much more than that. But if you’re reading these in order than you already know what the vision has become. If you aren’t reading these in order, then I’m so sorry for the feeling of extreme left-outedness that you’re experiencing right now. nothing I can do for you.