So I am sure there are a lot of people out there who knew me in high school or had hung out with me when I was in college and are scratching their heads right now… The question going through your mind might be, “Joel Dutton… Missionary… Really…?”. You’re probably wondering why a guy who always tried to be the life of the party is giving up everything and putting his life on hold all to live in a tent and out of a backpack for almost a year.
You could say “maybe he needs a vacation… A nice, long vacation…?”, well no, let’s face it, most of these countries don’t quite make the cut for vacation hot spots, at least on my list they don’t. Not to mention, not being able to shower on the reg or have access to a “normal” bathroom….? Not so much…
How about, “He seems like the adventurous type, maybe he is trying to test himself… See what he is really made of!”, well no, I mean yeah I am pretty adventurous, but 11 months…? Out of a backpack…? I’m going be honest with you and say that is going to get really old, really quick.
“Ok… Why then?”, CHANGE… “Change…?”…. Yes… CHANGE!
The truth of the matter is change comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes can go unnoticed. But the change of a HEART!? There is something different about it. It is a change that people always seem to see and question. Why…? How…? The honest answer is there is only ONE way for me to have gotten to the point where I am now in my life…. There is only ONE reason that a kid from Madison, AL who wanted nothing more then to live the Hollywood life and become a household name would let those dreams go to live out of a backpack for 11 months… God… As crazy and “churchy” as that sounds, that’s all I have for you. Some of you have just read that last statement and were instantly turned off, the whole idea of “God” just puts a bad taste in your mouth. As much as I want to give you the answer that you want to hear like, “I’m doing this for world peace.”, or, “I’m doing this to make my mark on history.”, I can’t… This is just so much deeper then that.
People can ATTEMPT to argue the Bible, but they CAN’T argue a changed life. I’m not talking about a “12 Step program, everything’s going to be ok, God in a box, let’s go to church on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s” kind of change. I am talking about a, “I made almost every wrong decision, turned my back on God, tried it my own way until I hit rock bottom, all to realize I should have taken this whole ‘God thing’ seriously” kind of change. I am talking about reaching a point of brokenness where your life turns into a fight and all you feel like you can do is fall flat on your face and quit, when all of the sudden the God that you turned your back on is the only one there to pick you up. He picks you up in a way that changes your perspective and understanding of life… In a way that breaks your heart for almost every decision you had ever made… In a way that makes you want to CHANGE, not out of obligation, but because you realize you don’t need anything else. Which is what happened to me, I just don’t need the things that use to control my life. Once I felt that freedom it became something that I want to share and I am willing to go to the deepest, darkest places in the world to share it. I am willing to not be the center of attention (Those who know me know that is not me at all) and let God shine through me and my life story to change the lives of others. I know that is part of what the World Race is about for me.
