I like math.
Yes, I know it’s weird to admit that, but it’s true. I totally understand why people don’t like it, but I also know that there is a serious sense of satisfaction when you finish a math problem that takes both the front and back of your page, and you get it right. (You feel me, fellow engineers?)
So, it’s safe to say that numbers have always been a big part of my life. But numbers aren’t always helpful, and they definitely don’t make you feel warm and fuzzy inside all of the time. For instance, age. Looking at you, old people! Or maybe golf score. I dislike that number so much I don’t even keep score when I golf. Or maybe height. Anyone else have little man syndrome? You know, it’s the one where somebody who is shorter than average has to act twice as tough because they feel small? Yeah, I had a little bit of that when I was younger.
But one number has been particularly sticking out to me in recent weeks. One number that I didn’t think I would have to deal with in terms of the World Race. You see, sometimes, as embarrassing as it is to admit, I feel like:
You see, it’s like this. You know how in your group of friends and family, you may be the only person that can sing, or dance, or the only one who travels, rides a motorcycle, or can speak another language? But then you go join a choir, or you visit another country, or you take part in a charity motorcycle ride, and all of a sudden, what was once so unique about you is unique no more? You’re no longer the best singer, the most traveled person, or the most dedicated biker?
At times, and at too many times, I feel this way about the Race. I feel like I am one of a million Racers, one of many who have gone, are going or will go. I am just another blog, just another video, just another story. Just another number.
But now, that is absolutely amazing.
Amazing? That didn’t always sounds amazing to me. For a while, I wallowed in those feelings of being lost in the millions, being just another number. But then I realized that being one Christian of many Christians who have gone out, are going out, or will go out to spread the Gospel is to be a part of the final command of Christ!
I now want to be one of a million!
One million, two million, a bazillion gazillion million, whatever! What once brought me dismay now brings delight, because I am a part of something that is so much bigger than myself. It is not about you, or me. It is about US and WE, and WE go because Christ saved US.
I felt like my blog was lost in the company of countless other blogs, a fact which my pride did not handle very well. I felt like my story would not be heard, but instead would be drowned out by the telling of other’s stories. But then I noticed those two sentences started with “I”. Once the focus was changed to “We”, numbers became a means of praise. God, look at all you are doing! Listen to the loud noise of the telling of your stories. Read the millions of words written about your actions. Watch the hours of videos showing your greatness.
So bring on those numbers. Bring down my pride. Bring forth the thousands of World Race blogs, videos, stories and testimonies.
I hope there are so many stories of God working that my stories become like grains of joyous sand on a vast rejoicing beach.
I hope to become just another number working to glorify the God that is innumerable.
