I have learned that every time I build expectations I am normally caught off guard by reality. I don't like to puff up my imagination and think of my ethnocentric American ideas beforehand. I probably view Africa as a land of lions, hippos, tribal people, and spears. Or worse, a feudal land of drug dealers and war lords. Perhaps it is the American media. Perhaps it is my own ignorance.
I am heading to eleven different countries. Some are closer to my culture than others. Some are so far removed I have stupid ideas. I know it's wrong but deep down inside I believe everyone in Australia rides kangaroos. I think it is because of the television. Honestly, the Simpsons formulated so much of my worldview I find myself seeing in Willy Wonka Vision™
So when asked to levy my expectations for The World Race I am at a loss. I am well-traveled, having been to many countries and lived abroad for two years. Yet, I find that even after months of study and book after book of reading, a mere day in a country will explode so many of my assumptions and retcon my foolish presuppositions. On the outside looking in I think it is easy to think some pretty simple things such as "I probably need to buy some Toms, a bandana, and roll with hipsters if I'm going to even make it on the race."
Granted I probably will buy Toms. I just want to fit in. Regardless, as I have looked at The Race, one thing I have seen is that the people on the Race are…
PASSIONATE…
There is this line by Lecrae in the song Fuego that gets me every stinking time…
"Ever seen a child ain't eat for days, Promise you ain't ever go'n leave the same"
Last year I lived in Taiwan and in the last couple of months God graced me with the opportunity to work at an AIDS orphanage in Taipei. My heart was SHATTERED.
I think that in some ways is what I expect. I think the raw reality of this present earth and people suffering far beyond my first-world coffee laden Seattle culture will impact me in ways I cannot understand. I expect my soul to awaken to the beauty of the gospel and the sheer life offered through Christ. I expect to feel these dry dusty bones and this heart that is so coated in apathy to more and more break free of myself and beat vibrantly for Christ.
Sometimes I ask God, "Can you really make me like Elijah? Can my heart really sing praises to You and refuse to be silent? Can I be so moved as to forsake anything and everything to serve You?"
"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our LORD Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." – Galatians 6:14
I want the cross to move me. I want to follow God to the ends of the Earth and boast in Him alone.
I want to never be the same. I want to be filled with the spirit. I want to fervently run headfirst into the very gates of hell and rescue those who have been wounded and caught captive by this world.
I expect to leave my old life.
I expect to return a different man.
P.S. A blogging tips site said that I SHOULD always have a photo in my posts… so here is a photo of me ripping the heart out of a Taiwanese man…
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- KALEEE MAAAAAA!!!
