Today was our first full day in the city of Paris. I remember thinking yesterday afternoon “Finally! Ive arrived!” However, Today did not match the feeling that I thought may accompany the beginning of our journey. Instead, today was much like any day in the states. I may have had a nap in there at some point after several days of long travel to Paris. I am attempting to remember as much French as humanly possible from middle school, Madame Grady would hopefully be impressed after 13ish years, maybe there is a point where I will think “Ive arrived” remembering my French lessons. Today was a little difficult in navigating our budget and figuring out just what we have, and what it can go to. I am my teams treasurer, meaning I help our team stick to budget and handle all of the expense reports, bank statements, and such for our team, to keep the IRS happy! While this process can be taxing (and yes, Pun-y jokes may be a re-occuring theme in my blogs, you’re welcome in advance) it was extremely good for our team’a dynamics and communication. But, again, I also thought, maybe there will be a point on the Race that I think “Ive arrived” dealing with our team finances. Where we are staying has an awesome view of the city of Paris itself, Eiffel Tower included (Pictures to come) where a lot of my team and the other team from my squad had the opportunity to go out and meet with the Parisians, there are some great stories that came out of some of their conversations today, go subscribe to their blogs to hear those!. In the moment, if I am honest, I was a bit *insert all the emotions* not being there with them and being as open/willing/bold as to engage the locals as some of my teammates have been so great at, I thought again, maybe there is a moment that Ill think “Ive arrived” at being able to so freely engage people. Today while walking down to the business area of the neighborhood we are staying in, I looked down the road onto which we just rounded the corner and was instantly reminded of some of the small roads of downtown Charleston off of King Street and remembered Im actually on the World Race, Im actually on the other side of the ocean, getting the opportunity to engage other cultures and engage people that I normally never would have the opportunity. In that moment, I thought, when will it hit me that Im actually doing this, actually walking in a promise that the Lord gave me at a small Bible College (Go Bucs!) on the other side of the world? When will I have that “Ive arrived” to the race moment.
Today, it hit me just like the Pidgeon flew up and head butted me in the face while walking down a French Rue (road)! Yes that actually happened, and yes I know it would only happen to me… getting hit in the face by a French bird…Its okay, I think I laughed harder at myself, than my teammates and everyone else in the house when they found out!
My, and many others’, walks with the Lord can seem this way. I know for me, I see those who are more mature in their faith and major influences on my life, such as Dr. Peter Beck, who knows theological and Church history better than the back of his hand. Or Dr. Pete Link, who has the ability to rightly interpret scripture as easy as it is for him to cheer on his Texas Longhorns. Or my good friend Cameron Reed, who has the ability to engage anyone and make them feel known, while being able to share the Lord as easy as it is for him to lead worship and play his guitar (Also congrats to him and his wife, Brett, on moving back to GA where Cameron accepted a position of youth pastor at a church there!). Or the ability to worship the Lord with such power and passion as my friend Sam Kesner, well its Harper now, because she married her World Racer! These people are just examples of how I observe them and their gifts from the Lord and think “When will I have that arrived moment”?
Today has brought me that answer.
In my walk that moment will never happen.
Let that sink in for a moment, then continue.
That moment will never arrive because that moment didn’t happen for anyone of those individuals, or any one of the disciples either! My walk with the Lord (and anyone else’s) isn’t about performance, head knowledge, or anything else other that fully engaging the Lord with all of our hearts. That walk is faithfully living out my life chasing after Jesus and nothing and no one else. When I focus on God, not man, and what He has for me in each moment of each day, thats all I need. Its kind of hard to tell the Creator of the Universe that you need (basic need, not want) something when He has provided all that He has, day by day throughout my life. If I focus my life on Him, learning more about Him, learning more about His character and who He is, not just more head knowledge of Him, then that pursuit will lead to a better relationship with Him. A better relationship with the Lord will make me more in tune with His plan for my life and for each moment and living that out will then look more like Him and less like me. That place may be where Dr. Beck, or Sam K may be, however, I know they are fully pursuing the Lord and what He has for them day by day. In the long run, I don’t want this 11 month missions trip to be the highlight of where I was able to share the love of Christ most, in fact, I want it to be like Payton Manning’s first Pee Wee football game stats, compared to his final career NFL stats. Than is, the World Race isn’t going to be the grand highlight reel for me of my pursuit of the Lord and telling others about Him, it will be my rookie season. There will be many trials, obstacles, challenges, and thoughts of “when I arrive” or “when will I get there”, but in those, Ill remember that “arriving” is just as simple as saying “Lord, I know I am flawed, a sinner, and I cannot do this on my own. I know that you gave your life so that I may have eternity with you, if only I believe and trust in you. Will you be the Lord of my life, in this moment, and every moment for eternity?” If you have never prayed that prayer, want to know why/how I gave my life to Jesus, or just think Im crazy and want to talk to me about that, just shoot me an email and I would love to tell you more about Christ, who He is, and what He has done in my life, as well as how you can have Him in your life!
