Since the World Race happened I often have so much more appreciation for community. On the Race, we didn’t ‘pick’ our community. Didn’t pick who would be on our squad [who we would travel the world with], didn’t have a say in who we would be ‘doing life’ around the clock with, on our team.
Some might choose to not go on the Race for that very reason.
Some even leave the Race for that reason [or at least, it could have something to do with it].
Truly, it can be hard to be forced to live with someone who is ‘unbearable’ to live with.. and especially to love and pursue certain people when you know you might not even put up with their ‘stuff’ in the real world.
Regardless of it all, and maybe because no one ever felt ‘unbearable’ [probably had my doubts at times though.. who doesn’t?], I think it is brilliant. WR community pushes for growth.
I might not have picked my team and maybe they wouldn’t have picked me, but I can see the beauty of learning to love others through all of our ‘stuff.’ Learning to be the body of Christ for everyone, and not just a select few. We need all our body parts to function well.
This season, my ‘close-knit’ community, who I see day in and day out, is my parents [and Teddy]. They get to see the high’s and the lows. When I’m smooth sailing and when I‘m going through a rough patch. My dad, just being there and knowing he loves and supports me through anything, gets me through sometimes. Last night I asked my mom to pray for me, and as I laid my head on her lap, Teddy came and licked the whole first layer of skin off my face [yuck].
I’m thankful for this community I have now. Sometimes I worry about the future and what life and community will look like then. This morning my mom encouraged me with something she read, that “worry is the belief that God doesn‘t care, or that He isn’t all powerful.” Neither of which are true, amen.
Today I’m finding joy in the truth that having courage doesn’t mean we have to be strong enough to fight ourselves. In a spiritual sense, having courage can mean surrendering, putting our trust in God.. and being patient.
“Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 27:14
