Everyone’s race is different. There are not two alike or the same.
Even though I have been on the same trip as my squad and in the same locations as my team.
God has a way of working differently based on the individuals needs.
As I sit here in my bed in Uganda, I reflect upon the fact that my team leader, Teresa, and my friend/teammate, Madison, and myself have been a part of the same team for eight straight months now. (Side note, its completely crazy to me that I am coming to the end of month 8, what happen to this year?) We have experienced so much together; joy together, pain together, poverty together, abundance together, fun together, tears together, prayer together, boredom together, odd things together, five hour church services together, days off together, manual labor work together, crazy foods together, laughter together, worship together, house visits together, 9 countries together, long bus, train, automobile and plane rides together, debriefs together, feedback and team times together, just simply all of life and ministry together. For 8 months we have done practically everything together. It is true what they say on the world race you rarely (if ever) do anything alone.
However as I sit here in my bed I realize my race and their races have been completely different from one another. Even though we have done everything shy of peeing together. God has used the experiences of the world race extremely differently in each of our lives, teaching us different lessons, and leading us different places. Different individuals have impacted us, we have been inspired by different contacts, we have been encouraged through different stories, gripped by different facts, and we have felt compelled and compassionate over different issues.
Its crazy to me how you can experience the exact same thing, yet be touched and moved and molded in such different ways. These past eight months God has taught us all different things, completely and absolutely specified and custom tailored for each of us as individuals. He has been molding us and shaping us into more of His image. Yet from individual to individual the image of Christ appears to look so different, how can this be?
He has been instilling His heart within us, he has been removing the carnal sin from within us, He has been preparing us for our callings. He has been teaching us to seek first him and his kingdom, laying aside the things of this world. He has been removing and pruning away at our branches, and making new fruit grow from within us. Though looking like Christ is what we all desire, it’s amazing to me how different Christ can look when he embodies each individual. Personality and Character all unique in every way cause us to display Christ from within us in different ways.
To future world racers: When you read blogs from current racers and you dream about what your race will be. Please consider that everyone’s race is different, extremely different. It doesn’t matter where you go, whom you are with, or what you do. God is going to custom tailor the race just for you.
To friends and family and supporters: If you are seeking to set Christ at the forefront of your hearts and minds, dwelling on him, know that he will do this for you too. It doesn’t require the world race for God to move. Allow him to continue to custom tailor a life for you. Be willing and open to what he has for you.
