So I have less than 6 days until my World Race trip, and I’m starting to freak out now. I have so many emotions running in between my heart and mind as if they were in some kind of tennis match and the tennis ball is my emotions. My mind races as my heart cheers it on, going faster and faster as the clock turns its hands slowly but surely to September 5th at 9:00am, the time my plane leaves for Chicago and ultimately, the world. And with every second, I begin to undergo this hurricane of thoughts, emotions, and feelings.
It’s known as the Pre-Race Syndrome. It’s an inevitable, unprecedented state that a World Racer goes through. It’s contagious for upcoming Racers, usually occurring after Training Camp, 1-2 weeks prior to Launch. There’s no known cure for the epidemic. Slowly it penetrates the heart and mind of a Racer. There are different signs to determine you have Pre-Race syndrome. Usually symptoms can include outburst of courageousness to awestricken, from sadness to adventurous, all in which I will diagnose and explain through my movie selection.
Is it wrong to compare pre-mission trip excitement to movies like Twilight and The Notebook? Probably. But I just did and will explain in even further detail. When I watch Twilight, especially New Moon, which is the movie/book that best portrays Jacob and the Wolf Pack (Team Jacob, ftw), or when I watch The Notebook and see Noah Calhoun begin to fall in love with his summer sweeteheart Allie Hamilton, there’s an excitement that builds up. Why do teen girls and I love these movies? There are probably billions of reasons why. But for me, I like the excitement behind it all! Falling in love, your best friend is a werewolf, they’re things you would never expect to happen, but when they do, your whole life changes. For me, the World Race has completely changed my life.
Everything I do has now shifted either dramatically or at least a little bit because of what God has been showing me throughout this journey. This excitement, this crazy life-altering calling, it changes you! Now when you wake up, you’re freaking out with so much excitement because you’re literally another day closer and the next thing you know, you’re waking up to the morning of your trip! Or you can be in front of the mirror getting ready to hangout with friends and then all of a sudden it hits you that you don’t have to shave for 11 months (I’ve already started this process.)
The excitement of the Race just engulfs your heart and there’s nothing you can really do to stop this symptom; only another symptom can effectively change this symptom. That symptom which can burst the excitement bubble is the “Sad” syndrome. I’ve experienced multiple episodes of complex secretomotor phenomenon characterized by the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus, without any irritation of the ocular structures. Or in other words, I’ve cried a lot.
It’s like the Fox and the Hound, one of my all time favorite movies. Remember when Todd says goodbye to his lovely human mom Widow Tweed who’s taken care of him since he was young? Or when he is left by his best friend Copper at the end of the movie when they share one last smile before parting? That movie brings to mind seasons of life when we leave loved ones and step into what our purpose is in life. I’ve started that process; saying goodbye to loved ones, family, and friends. It’s been hard. It’s been difficult. And God has been patient in walking with me through this tender journey. I know as time progresses, it’s inevitable that I will say my final goodbyes, and much like Todd looking down the hill at his former best friend Copper's house, I too will look down through the airplane window and see Orlando, the City Beautiful, home to all of my dearest friends and family, and I will say my final goodbye.
But knowing the road that lies ahead, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with this sense of courageousness (much like the symptom of excitement.) Like Katniss of the Hunger Games (my best friend Meaghan showed me the movie, and now I can’t help but mimic it) I find myself taking on these courageous mood swings. I put on my backpack, pick up my Bible and the sensation of adventure takes a hold of me, and I want to go to the deepest, darkest, dangerous parts of the world and bring the love and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Its how God has wired me. I need to be out there. I will sacrifice my money, my time, my life, all for the name of Jesus. I’m only a short, few days away from the greatest adventure of my life. And as the great missionary Charles Studd, who sacraficed his life to China, India, and Africa once stated:
then no sacrifice can be too great
for me to make for Him."
This is it. This is the final countdown.
This is the beginning of my World Race journey.
11 countries, 11 months.
I'm following Jesus,
and there's nothing that can stop me.
