Are you crazy?!
Have you lost your mind?!
You’re doing what?!
These are the questions I’ve been faced with several different times as I’ve told various people about the race. And for the many that didn’t actually say anything, the looks on their faces pretty much said it anyways. It’s definitely made me think…
Am I crazy?!!!
Crazy for walking away from the ministry that has stolen my heart since high school? Crazy for spending all that money on a graduate degree to not even use it right now? Crazy for leaving behind a nice car and house to live out of a backpack and tent? Crazy for trading in my independence for “I-pod Alone Time”? Crazy for living off support… and even crazier for trusting what is not there to actually come in? Crazy for believing that I’ll actually see miracles like physical healings and dead men raised? I mean…
WHO does this?!
Well, apparently me and the other 60+ people starting this ridiculously amazing journey this week (not to mention the numerous alumni, staff, and current racers that have paved the road before us so that we can go… THANK Y’ALL by the way!). And, even beyond that, there’s comfort in knowing we’re not alone in this…
After all, most have thought Jesus was crazy.
Over 2000 years ago, from making His appearance in the least popular way to His death in the most inhumane and humiliating way, Jesus walked around bringing pieces of Heaven into the places of hell on earth. From casting out demons and healing the sick to setting the captives free and raising the dead, Jesus did it all. And…
It was all because of LOVE.
All throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation we’re shown countless times how God loved us so much, even to the point where He sent His own Son to die for us. And it wasn’t just for our salvation into Heaven- He wants us to experience the freedom of His love here on earth! As a result…
We love because He first loved us
I’ve realized that these questions really aren’t any different than the ones I’ve been faced with over the past 6 years. If people hadn’t thought I’d lost my mind when I took on 9 pregnant teenagers at the age of 21, surely it was when just two years later I took on 9-11 high school and middle school boys. And the reason I do the race, is basically the same reason I started house/ foster parenting… I wanted these kids to experience the love of a family and the love of Christ. It’s just that after this year, it goes so much deeper than I ever thought possible. And so…
I guess I AM CRAZY after all!!!
“If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
2 Corinthians 5:13-14
