Today has become a day described best in events, rather than emotions. This may seem typical to most, but to me it has always been simple for me to describe my emotions. Today, however, it is a different story.
I sit on a plane headed towards Washington D.C., ready to engage in the most significant year of my life. I should be FEELING a lot of things right now. Excitement, anxiety, sadness, and even a little touch of longing for those relationships i must leave behind for now. What best describes how I am feeling right now is….. full.
You see I ordered a bacon cheeseburger during my brief layover in Chicago, and have just recently finished it. Other than costing a slightly bloated $11, it also nearly cost me my seat on the plane since I was the last one to board. This has never happened. The very trip I have been preparing for, dreaming about, talking to everyone who will listen about was almost derailed by half a pound of beef topped with bleu cheese and bacon. Mmmmm bacon.
Where was I? Ah yes. How I feel. Right now I just…don't.
Let me embelish… I have discussed this with my nearest and dearest friends for a while now and I definitely thought I would be excited. I am usually what one would call "easily excitable". The guy who gets geek'd up after he sees a trailer for whatever the newest Marvel movie is (sidebar: Have you seen the Iron Man 3 trailer?? Looks like opening day material for sure!). To be on the cusp of beginning an adventure like the World Race, I should be bouncing-off-the-walls-out-of-my-mind-stoked. Yet here I sit. In a middle seat aboard my last flight inside of the U.S. for a year. Sober as a Mennonite. At peace.
After reading about servanthood during my devotion time this morning, I believe that The Lord is quieting my spirit in order to preserve me from burning myself out on the hype of the journey itself, so that I can better serve my squad, my team, and those in Mozambique later this week. It'd be just like me to drain my batteries before I'm even called into action. God is saving me from that by giving me a peace that passes all understanding. Why? Because that is exactly what I prayed for and He promises just that.
You see, when we walk in the will of Christ, we walk with tremendous peace. It's not that I don't feel great. I do! In fact, the Lord has gifted me with such peace I feel like I am simply: Ready. I don't need to be able, because He is the one who is doing all of the work. I am empowered because He is all-powerful and lives inside me. He has simply asked me to go. And well, I am. It's as simple as that.
Simple. Beautiful. Peaceful. Immensely Powerful.
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I am able to be a part of this because of the goodness of God and the generosity of His people. I still need $6,000 to complete the full 11-months by June 30,2013. Please consider donating to my trip. God Bless!
