30 days. 30 more hot showers. 30 more nights in a real bed with a real pillow. 30 days to love on family and friends. 30 days of anticipation. 30 days of excitement. 30 days of waiting.
I remember my last 30 days in the States in May 2007 and still consider them to be the hardest 30 days of my life. It seemed that in a blink of an eye my entire life was packed up and stripped away. I remember the hand of the Lord being on me during that time and gently guiding me to the Atlanta airport to meet the squad. I remember how terrified I was the night before I left and how I unpacked my bag convinced that I had changed my mind and wasn’t really going to go.
I also remember my last 30 days on the Race in April 2008. I remember wishing that every day would last forever and that time would stop flying. I remember cherishing every meal, every prayer, every laugh with my precious teammates. I remember wishing it really wasn’t coming to an end.
And here I sit. A weird mix of both. Terrified at the thought of sleeping in a tent again, being dirty all the time and dealing with the challenges of community living. Excited beyond belief at chasing the will of God for my life. Thrilled at the opportunity to once again live for something bigger than myself. Ready to pour myself out into 52 new amazing teammates.
All I know to do is to embrace every emotion. Every laugh and every tear are from the Lord and He is the King of my heart. He asks me to continue to walk forward and I will be obedient.
I am reminded of David’s words in Ecclesiastes 3:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
I continue to be in need of both financial and prayer support for the Race. If the Lord prompts, please consider supporting me by clicking on SUPPORT ME on the left side of the screen or CONTACT me for mailing instructions. God Bless you.
