I have this theory. You see, I realized many things about God, and about myself during training camp. I learned a lot. I became vulnerable. I left feeling closer to God. I was able to be part of a community with mission-minded people. Then, I went back home, and everything seemed to settle down. It seems like training camp has been a blur and a dream. Then, the more I reflect about training camp, the more I realize that there is huge gap on how I was living during my time there, and how I lived in my “normal” life. When our “normal” life should not be that different in how we live in ministry.
So, I am giving up.
- I am giving up my perspective: Every person I meet is not a robot, they are a child of God
I’ve known bartering since I was a kid, and I have gotten pretty good at it. I once got a smoothie for almost less than half the price from a restaurant. I have always viewed it from one perspective: everyone has a part to play and nothing can transcend that. During a training camp debrief, I came to realize something vital in our everyday life. The ceremony of bartering comes to a stop and in came God’s radical love that transcends everything. Basically, I’ve always taken vendors, beggars, tourists, etc., etc. at face value and nothing more, when in reality, they are similar to me. They are human beings, who have emotions, weaknesses and strengths. More importantly though, they are all children of God, worthy of love, belonging and to be known.
I want to challenge my perception of people. I want to remind myself each day that everyone is a child of God, from vendors to tourists, and from friends to even enemies, from customers to waiters. They are all children of God who are worthy of love. I want to see them much like how our Father sees them, with love so radical, so pure and beautiful.
- I am giving up my stuff: Less is more, more or less
With the advancement of our society and the draw towards a pixelated world, distractions, temptations, and separation from our God the Father increases if we are not careful. It was horrible, at first, when I did not have access to my phone, laptop, and any other form of technology during training camp. Then, it got better, a whole lot better. I felt freedom from a chain that previously had a vice grip on my life. Less technology drew me closer to God, because I am finally away from the distractions of social media. Less is more. When we got bored during training camp, we actually talked to each other, grow closer as friends and children of God. Who would’ve thought?!
I want to challenge my “need” for stuff. I want to apply this to all aspects of my life, not just in the area of technology and social media. Less is more in the area of material possession. I want to challenge myself during the race (and even after) to consider living with less. Less materials, less stuff, less distractions and to draw even closer to God and to depend on Him. I want to fully embrace what it really means to depend on God. I want to fully realize and understand that having nothing means that I have everything, because in the end, all that matters is God.
- I am giving up my independence: Community is not just a TV show, it’s real life
As independent as I tend to be, and as much as I think I can do every single thing on my own, living in ministry will bring out my weaknesses. It is a good thing that we were meant to live in community. I definitely cannot do everything on my own, as much as I try, and as much effort as I put in something, I will fail at something. But that is freeing to hear. Choose to open yourself up to people even at the most uncomfortable or precious times in your life. Besides, how else would your friends realize that you love sriracha so much that you can practically eat a quarter of a bottle in one meal? You see, when you open up to other people that you can actually grow closer and be more intimate with God.
I want to challenge my independence. To remind myself to draw closer to community instead of doing things on my own. Learn to trust and depend on other people for the things that I struggle at. And to Lead others for the things that I am good at. Finally to realize that we are all human beings prone to sin, and people will disappoint me, hurt me. Even then, learn to forgive and still choose to be in community because life is not meant to be tackled alone.
- I am giving up my identity: You are free, so don’t sell yourself short
Each of us is a child of God. I have always lived for myself, many times, even as a Christian. Who I really am as God’s child sometimes does not fully come out. Why? The fear of embarrassment. The fear of being judged. The fear of not belonging. So, instead of fully accepting who God made to be, I assimilate more to the group that I am with.
I want to challenge my identity. To remind myself each day to be who God made me to be, with all my strengths and weaknesses, with all my quirks and flaws. Because through Jesus’ death, I am made worthy to be a son of the living God. To dance in worship, because that is when I really feel alive and to fully give all my praises to God. To cry like a baby even at the tiniest moment of weakness, because being a man is not defined by holding down my emotions. To think in a creative chaos about everything, because that is when I truly feel close to God. Finally, to realize that I am a child of God, and with that comes the power and authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead.
- I am giving up my life: Get wrecked for the ordinary
I am wrecked to be ordinary, and I could not be more excited. I have gone through many things, I have always thought of myself as a leader and I have accomplished different milestones in my life, and even then, I am just an ordinary person. In reality, I was never meant to be anything else other than a child of God. You know what’s freeing about being ordinary? The fact that God uses the ordinary to do extraordinary things, even using our flaws and weaknesses to work through people. I don’t have to put on a façade, nor do I have to have it all together. God has been and will be pleased with me no matter what path I take, since all I really need to do is to be obedient and diligent to God’s call in my life. The best thing about that is even through my failure, He is and will continue to be faithful and proud of me.
I want to challenge my life. To strive for the ordinary, a life lived out of passion instead of obligation. A life in service for God who gave me eternal life. A life to serve His people and to tell them about God’s radical love for them. A life full of His Word and His love, drawing closer to God day by day.
While this blog might seem like a list of things that I learned during training camp, I am writing this blog more as a challenge to pursue after the life that Jesus calls me to live.
Before I went to training camp on June, I have decided that I will go on July route. It felt right. It felt like that was what God wants me to be, but I also will not be surprised if that was not what God wanted me to do in the first place, because I am human. In a way, you can say that I have given up on the WorldRace, but not exactly how you think.
I have given up control over my life. I am giving up my plans and instead wait for God to completely wreck my mind and my life. I have grown closer like a family with my current squad and current team in July, but whether or not I leave on July or on September; it is all up to God. In the end, no matter what happens, my identity is with Christ, and He will be glorified through it all. All I can do right now is to be obedient and be diligent to the task that has been put ahead of me.
So, here is my step of obedience: I will diligently continue fundraising. I will continue my WorldRace journey, no matter how long or short it takes. I will continue to put my trust in God who provides everything we need. If I am meant to leave in July, I am sure that God will be faithful and provide people who will be willing to partner with me.
Here’s my challenge to your life. What is holding you back? What are you willing to give up to get closer to God.
I am still ways away from my launch goal.
Will you consider giving up your time to include me in your prayers and share my story and blog to others?
Will you consider giving up your financial comfort and partner with me financially? Consider taking the challenge of living with less to give more to the people around you, even if it does not go to my trip
