It's hard to believe that in exactly 115 days, I will be leaving for undoubtedly one of the greatest, most challenging adventures of my life. Looking back on the last 24 years (am I really that old already!?), I can't help but notice how every challenge, success, heartbreak, and blessing has brought me to this point.
To be honest, these past six months have been pretty tough. I walked away from a job that I loved into a world of struggle, not only financially, but in trying to keep myself in good spirits and a positive environment. I have been incredibly blessed with a loving family and several mentors to support me if I was ever truly in need, but I haven't necessarily been at the depths. I've just been kind of floating along, hoping and praying that my life is pleasing to the Lord, and most importantly relying on Him to help me make it to the next step. I have never struggled financially or worked so hard to support myself as I am now, but I am blessed and thankful for an experience that offers me insight and allows me to fully rely on Him.
As much as I know I have been called to the race, and as incredible as I know it will be, I sometimes think about the challenges I will face. However, every time I think about how much I am going to miss my family, friends, my precious little puppy, a good meal whenever I'm hungry, a comfortable bed, a bath after a hard day at work, comfort when I'm sick, or even just a glass of ice cold water to drink, I am reminded that my lifestyle only represents less than 15% of the world. How crazy am I to think about missing such things when the vast majority of God's creation is dying because they don't even have clean water to drink. Most of the world doesn't know what it's like to have a loving and supportive family, and I'm struggling with being apart from them for 11 months. I should be blessed to know that they are showering me with love and prayer, even when I'm not with them, and be filled with joy knowing they will be waiting for me when I return. Most of the world would give anything just to have something to eat for one day, and illness is just something that happens – not something that gets cured. Our lifestyle is not the reality of this world, so it's time for me to wake up and be prepared for the lifestyle that I am about to joyfully embrace.
My prayer is that my mind will be free from thoughts about what I will miss on this journey or what life will be like when I return. How often will I get to talk to my family? How will my softball girls do this season? Where will I work when I return? Where will I live? How will things be different?
Instead, none of my questions should be about me! I should be asking myself: What incredible things is GOD going to do on this journey? How many lives will be changed around the world by HIS incredible works? How will the Lord use me to bless His children?
SO, in the process of daily reminding myself that it's not about me, I made this video for a little bit of help. From Honduras to Kazakhstan, the Lord has used so many incredible people and experiences to prepare me for the World Race. Every picture and face in this video reminds me of a special moment or memory, but more importantly, I pray that the Lord glorified himself through simple little me in order to make a difference in their lives and further expand the Kingdom here on Earth!
So if you're in need of a little encouragement, check it out!
http://web.me.com/ahoward12/site/The_World_Race.html
Rob Bell once said, "Freedom is not having everything we crave; it's being able to go without the things we crave and being ok with it."
So I say we strive to free ourselves from what often enslaves us the most: ourselves.
