The questions never cease to amaze me when I tell people what I’ll be doing for the next 11 months. “What will you eat? You’re sleeping in a tent? Will you ever get to shower?” But one question has stuck with me since it was asked…”So what caused you to go off the deep end?” I was interviewing with a woman from my local newspaper back home. She asked with a laugh and I began to think really about why I was doing this.
The World Race is going to be crazy, ridiculously hard and even this is an understatement. So why did I decide to do this? Why did I “go off the deep end?”
I guess for some or maybe for a lot of people going on the World Race does mean I have absolutely lost my mind. And while the thought of not showering everyday sometimes bothers me or not seeing my family and friends for 11 months is something I still haven’t really let settle, or not having the things I “love” whenever I want them (like Chick fil a ahhh)… I think of the hands I will hold, some old and wrinkled, some so small and perfectly smooth in their youth, of the hearts that will touch my heart and the names of the people that I will grow to love, and the people behind those names, whose stories I will learn, whose struggles I will struggle with, whose joys I will delight in, and with that I realize that this is what life is all about.
This was how Paul had joy in prison because He knew in the core of his being that this was what he was put on this Earth to do because it isn’t about me living a mediocre, comfortable life, but it is about touching others lives and letting others touch mine because Jesus Christ came into my heart and forever changed me. So if that means abandoning the plans I had prepared for my life, then yes I have totally jumped off the deep end because a man named Jesus Christ gave His entire life so that you and I and every person on this Earth could have life.
So I guess the only real answer I can give when someone asks me that is Jesus. Jesus wrecked all my future plans and I fought Him for a long time and sometimes I still do, but then I think of what my life looks like when I let Him have control and I want to totally lose myself in His plan for my life. Because this is where we fall short everyday…God wants to give us His best yet so often we settle for good or mediocre, when the Lord wants to bless us.
I never in a million years would have thought this was where Jesus was going to take me when I sat in the fellowship hall of my small church, at the age of 10, with my Pastor Hank as I prayed a prayer that I knew was going to change me, but having no idea how much. I am so thankful for the way the Lord has worked in my life and led me right to where I am supposed to be.
So I challenge you and myself to wake up everyday, surrendering the “perfect” life plans we have made for ourselves and trusting the Lord to fill our hearts and minds with His plan because He will bless us far more immeasurably than all we could ever imagine.
Jesus chose us to be the ones to carry His message. He can do it in any way He wants but He chooses, us! How awesome is that! We literally get to be HIS HANDS AND FEET. When I think about this I can’t help but get excited!
Thank you guys for all the love and support ya’ll have shown me! In less than two months I will be launching! If you would like to join my prayer team or join my team financially, you may do so through my blog or by contacting me via e-mail: [email protected]
LOVE YOU ALL and let’s all “GO OFF THE DEEP END!” together!
