Once upon a time, a normal guy got an extraordinary opportunity.
He took it. He jumped. He swallowed the red pill. He wrote his name on the dotted line. He spit in his palm and shook hands. He signed his life away.
Did he deserve it? That's a joke.
Did he expect it? Not at first, but that started to change.
Did he want it? With everything in him. It was wired there from the beginning, he just didn't know it first.
Did he love it? Usually.
Did he feel understood and supported? Most of the time, although people kept checking to make sure he wasn't crazy (turns out he was).
Did it turn out the way he thought it would? Not at all.
What opportunity was it? Adventure. Adventure with God.
When I was 11, I left the country for the first time. In Peru, in the dirt, with the stench of urine and the shining eyes of the most beautiful children I'd ever met, my life was changed. God showed up.
"Hey."
"Oh. Umm. Hi…God." I responded. "This isn't what I expected. There aren't any palm trees or parrots. I really wanted to see parrots…And Alana keeps pushing me down harder than she's supposed to in the drama. And I really miss home. And I don't like flawn. And I really wish I didn't have to share a bed with Carlos. And I'm really tired. And I've had this whole stomach sickness for too long. And I think I'm annoying Michaela, but I don't know how to make her think I'm cool."
"Shhhhhh." He smiled. "You make this really complicated."
"I don't know how to do it." I started crying. "I can't speak Spanish, and I don't know how to do it."
"Do what? Speak Spanish?"
"I don't know how to love enough, or be strong enough, or be here, or go home. I'm scared that I won't be the same after this."
"Shhhhhh." He smiled again. "It's okay. I've got this."
I stopped talking. Peace rained down. "I might be crazy," I realized. "I've been talking to God."
I stopped thinking about it. Peace flowed down heavier.
I rested in it.
After a few minutes, He quietly nudged me. "I have a proposal."
"Huh?"
"I have an idea. How about I take over from here. How about you just let me lead you. I'll worry about the details, and you just get to say 'Okay.'"
I thought about it. That did sound pretty great.
He continued. "I have some pretty great things in store for you. How about whenever I give you an opportunity, you just take it? We'll figure it out together."
This was sounding too good to be true. I looked around me. Everyone else was still worshipping. "Oh yeah," I thought. "We're in the church." Self-consciousness set in as I hoped I hadn't been talking to myself very loudly.
Cautiously, I started nodding. "Yes," I whispered. "My answer is yes. Where you lead me, I'll follow. I'll say yes every time." I paused and thought about it. "But you have to promise to prove that it's really You. If you do, I'll never say no."
"He beamed." I'd never really experienced Glory like that. The Glory of obedience.
And that was that. I never went back. I tried, a few times. But He always reminded me of that moment. Then He reminded me of the craving for adventure that He'd placed in my soul's very deepest parts. He's never made a bad choice. He's never made a wrong decision. Sometimes I've felt like Jonah, running from what I know I'm supposed to do. But whenever I surrender, I step into that waterfall of peace. It's crazy. He's so good.
It's what has taken me to Peru 9 times. This promised "Yes" before the question is even asked took me to Argentina, to NC State, to Catch the Fire, to Swaziland, and now to the World Race. As of tonight, I have my first supporter. I'm so excited to see God make good on His promise. And I'm so excited for you to get to join me on the journey.
In Christ,
Caleb
