The World Race is deceiving… At least what you see of it on social media anyways. I’m officially in Month 9. There are days when I feel energized and I could do this for months, and there are days when I don’t know how I’m going to make it to the next hour. For the first time, when I stepped off the plane in Santo Domingo, I didn’t breathe a sigh of relief. (I’m sure traveling for over 50 hours didn’t help, but surely you get the point.) I am tired. I miss my family and friends. Moving every month is completely exhausting- physically, emotionally, relationally, mentally, and spiritually.
The truth is I am just like you. I control the image I give y’all back home. I post the pictures and tell the stories that I want you to see. There have been many months when taking pictures has been hard for me because living in a slum is someone’s reality. It isn’t something for me to show off to the social media world.
The truth is the World Race is hard. You haven’t seen the tear-stained cheeks, the bloated bellies from lack of nourishment, the empty hospital bed that held a child the day before, or the home with feces covering the floor. You didn’t sit speechless when visiting the 19-year old woman who is raising her four siblings (ages 13, 11, 8, and 6) and her own 3-year old daughter because her parents passed away.
I think the most common response when I told people how I was going to spend 11 months of my life was something similar to, “Wow! Sounds like a great vacation!”
I was usually pretty dumbfounded. I didn’t know how to respond. I just let it go at the time, but now, I can’t. I can’t unsee what I’ve seen. I can’t pretend I don’t know how horrifically some people live. Their smiles, laughter, tears and grief fill my thoughts.
When I hear reactions like that now, I fill with a righteous anger. You aren’t insulting me or a decision I made. You’re insulting God. You’re insulting a call He put on my life. You’re insulting the people He loves so much. You’re saying serving them is frivolous.
God laid this topic on my heart nearly 4 months ago, but it wasn’t time to share yet. In less than 90 days, I will be back in Charlotte, North Carolina. The place I’ve called home my entire life. I will return a changed person for those of you who take the time to talk to me in an attempt to understand. My heart is softer and bigger. My tears come easier. My eyes have been opened.
Our life in America is absolutely something to be thankful for. I’ve actually had to go over 36 hours without water of ANY kind- none to drink, none for dishes, none for toilets, none to take showers. This is normal for many people in our world. Please don’t take your everyday blessings for granted. We absolutely don’t deserve them even though we expect them solely because of where we live.
Joyfully yours,
Mary Catherine
PS: I’m definitely not the first Racer nor will I be the last Racer to write a blog on this topic. It should be a lesson to all of us to think before we speak… To listen to understand and not to just respond. I am so thankful for the many people in my life who have done both while I’ve been on this adventure. You’ve virtually dried my tears and comforted me. You’ve celebrated and laughed with me. You’re seriously the best people ever!!
