The other day I was telling a very close friend of mine about my World Race opportunity. After the usual "oh really, that's awesome" "you're a good man" and "that's a lot of money", she began to think about what I said. She then, very matter of factly said, "You know, you probably won't change the world with one trip. You might just make things worse. You could get stabbed. You could starve. You could [insert gruesome death here]." After thinking about it for awhile, I think I arrogantly said "So what?"
When I signed up for this "Christian" thing, I remember being told that my life was going to be easier. For those of you who have taken their walk seriously, you know this is a bold face lie. Life stayed just as hard, and when tragic stuff happened, it got harder. Most of the time I was given trite "Christianese". "God has a plan" "Jesus loves you" and "This will turn for good", although they were true, sometimes were the last thing I ever wanted to hear during times of pain. However, during these times of trials, I had a pastor once say, "Instead of throwing a pity party and being angry at God when you suffer, do the opposite. Run to God in your pain, as your Savior did for you."
So God, here I run. I run to you with my doubts about raising funds for this race. I run to you when I feel like my prayers are unanswered without cause. I run to you when my idols really expose me for the shadow of a man I really am. Lord, I'm running to you when I don't understand tragedy in my life. Lord, I'm running to you when I don't have anything left to give. Lord, I'm running to you when I doubt my calling. Lord, I'm running to you when I forget that your bride is full of broken people. And finally, I'm running to you Lord and staying there. You got me in your arms!
I think the answer to "So What?" makes all the different in how we live our lives.
