Expectations always lead to heartache. Or so I've been told for years. Not that I think the World Race is going to be filled with heartache, at least not all the time. Every current/past racer tells future racers the same thing: it's not going to be ANYTHING like you expect. So, as hard as I am trying to not expect too much I secretly have a lot of expectations I don't ever let myself think about, but I will share a few with you.
Expectation #1: Scary Food
We will be engulfed in eleven different cultures which means eleven different palates. Incase you haven't had the pleasure of eating with me yet you should know I am a very picky eater. If a potato chip or french fry has a brown spot on it (from being a potato) I won't eat it. Picky. I already know that meal time will be a challenge for me. Not that it should be offensive to any culture just that I want my homemade (not boxed) mashed potatoes and only meat that my mom cooks for me. I'm a food snob and I'm about to get un-snobbed. Scary.
Expectation #2: Being Uncomfortable
You know that feeling when you curl up with a fuzzy blanket after a long day and snuggle into your big squishy couch? Well I know I'm going to miss it. I missed a lot of things my freshman year of college but the thing I missed most frequently was a comfy couch to sit on. The next year of my life will consist of zero couches, cold showers, a 2 inch "mattress," and only ONE pillow. Basically, my physical comfort is going to be crying for America.
Expectation #3: Being Broken
While my physical comfort cries for America my emotional comfort will just be crying. The World Race being a spiritual journey I will most definitely be broken of my worldy ways. I will be surrounded by uplifting Christians 24/7 for 334 days who will challenge me to become a better person and live more Christ like. I will see the face of God in everyone I meet and experience miracles first person. I will be pushed to the edge of all of my comfort levels only to have deep, rewarding conversations with God about who I am and who He wants me to be. I will step off of American soil as an American surrounded by a secular world and into a Godly world forcing me to awkwardly and hesitantly leave my sinful ways only to return a Christ-like lady.
I expect to have good days and bad days, adventure filled days and lazy days. I expect to make friends who will become family and leave my heart everywhere I go. I expect to surprise myself more than I will surprise anyone else. I expect to find out what I'm actually getting myself into, but for now I can only trust.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
