“Any more questions?” Vanessa asked. It was halfway through Training Camp and trainers were meeting with each racer individually to check in on how we were doing.
“No, I think that covers it… Except for little logistical questions, like what kinds of electronics I should bring, and I can ask those anytime,” I said.
“None,” Vanessa responded, immediately and emphatically.
I smiled and laughed as I stood up, turning this absurd idea over in my mind.
No electronics.
No computer.
No iPhone.
No Kindle.
No camera.
No iPod.
None.
…How absurd.
And yet, for the rest of the week, I couldn’t get the crazy idea out of my head.
When I organized my stuff to pack for Training Camp the week before, it had been glaringly obvious that I was overdoing it in the electronics department. Strewn across the floor, I’d spread my computer, Kindle, iPhone, iPod nano, external hard drive, flash drive and batteries, not to mention the requisite chargers and cases. I looked from the pile… to my day pack… to the pile. All I could think was, Too much.
But the problem was, every single item was justifiable, even necessary, at least in my head. Each time I thought of the space and weight and worry represented by each device, I got overwhelmed, and every time I thought about culling it, I got even more so. The largest object caused me the most concern: a laptop is heavy, and potentially a huge distraction from the Race. I’m all too talented at wasting hours doing nothing on the computer. But at the same time, I love having a computer. My parents have already helped set me up with a beater PC that I can take around the world without fear, major financial investment or deep emotional attachment. And my primary reasons for bringing it would be to upload my pictures and maintain my blog, both valuable, God-honoring uses.
Even so, the computer remained a source of contention. Even before Training Camp, I’d had several conversations in which others had tried to convince me not to bring one. But it wasn’t until last week that I was finally able to listen.
One of my favorite aspects of Training Camp was the fantastic worship. I love worship: love singing praises to my King, being surrounded by beautiful music celebrating Him, dancing in response to His glory and love. So when the worship leaders hosted a breakout session to discuss what worship looks like on the Race, I went, though I don’t sing or play an instrument.
The talk was primarily intended to prepare those with musical skill to lead worship on the Race. Still, I found it powerfully inspiring. “The heart of worship is using your voice and your body in a life of worship to bring glory to God,” they reminded us. “Be a community that doesn’t say, ‘You don’t sound good, so you’re not welcome to worship.'” And on that note, they recommended, “if you play an instrument, bring it. If you dabble or want to learn, bring it.” For the free time on the Race is a great opportunity to pick up a new skill, and having an instrument will be a huge blessing to a team and squad. “Bring an instrument, even if you don’t play it well–or at all. You’ll learn!”
Fun fact: I’ve wanted to learn to play the ukulele for years, as my family can attest (to their vague disgruntlement). It’s small and portable and I love its sound. And as they spoke about picking up new instruments, my desire to learn flared once again. A new idea gripped my mind, refusing to let go: what if I this is my chance?
Worship is our warfare, bringing freedom and joy to spiritually dark places as we turn our hearts back to the glory of the King. You know what’s not our warfare? Wasting time on the computer. At Training Camp, the Lord laid it on my heart not to bring my laptop this year, and finally, I’m listening. Instead, I’ll be taking a shiny, new ukulele around the world with me, learning as I go. (Sorry not sorry, family.)
As I drove away from Gainesville on Saturday, I prayed over this decision. The temptation to bring too many electronics is great, but the Lord drenched me in peace. The overwhelmingness is gone; the pile has been culled. I am looking forward to a year of freedom from technology, freedom from the burden of a computer.
Though I’ll not have a computer, I’m not abandoning my blog by any means–I consider writing worship, too. But I won’t spend this year tied to a screen: I’ll spend an hour or two at an internet cafe now and again to post my thoughts and shoot out emails. You’ll still hear from me, just not constantly.
For once, I won’t be glued to Facebook, but instead will be honing a new skill to use in worshiping my King.
And though at present I’m struggling to keep my five-day-old uke in tune, much less producing any sort of joyful noise, I am ridiculously excited, for the Lord is with me.
It’s going to be a sonorous ride.
As you probably know, the funds that allow me to go on this journey are entirely support raised. I have been so encouraged these past few months by the way the Lord has provided thus far. Because of your generous giving, I’m nearly 75% funded! Thank you so much for your support, and for believing in this call as strongly as I do.
I have just $4,300 left to raise to secure my eleven months on the field. If you’re interested in supporting me on this journey, you can click the “Support Me!” link on the left to make an online donation. I am so excited to see what God has in store along the Race, and you are the ones making it happen. Thank you for every prayer, penny and encouraging email–I treasure every one.
