My Fellow Americans,
…just kidding (but really, friends in the U.S. Please save the pumpkin flavored things for my that I’m missing this fall…)
As I am a perpetual celebrator, I would like to propose a toast: to month 9 of the race, autumn, cute dogs found on the Internet and living life to the fullest. Cheers to movies like: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Life of Pi and books such as: Love Does and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years which inspire us to live rather than merely exist.
As I have learned so much through the university of life and The World Race, I would like to celebrate each of you who have been a part of my life and to declare these well-learned words of wisdom over us.
Dear World Racers and Everyone Else,
May we choose to let go of the old- whether that’s an old job, an old flame, our first World Race teams, past experiences. We cannot live the same experience one-hundred times and call it a life. We cannot pour new wine into an old wine skin, or else it will burst. By holding onto the past, we are limiting the new wine The Lord wants to bless us with. We are missing an abundant life.
May we choose not to focus on what could haven been, should have been or would have been, for regret is an exhausting hamster wheel that leads to nowhere. “Don’t look back; you’re not going that way.”
May we choose openness and vulnerability over putting up walls, for darkness shared loses its power. Sure, we may use the excuse of not “trusting” people. By using that crutch, we are saying that once other people know our full selves, they have the power to control us with their opinions and reactions. They don’t. Only we are in charge of us. “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
May we choose to embrace conflict, because although in the moment it may feel painful, it is ultimately a beautiful design to be refined into a greater version of ourselves. We all come from different ideas and backgrounds. We all come to the table with lessons to teach as well as lessons to learn.
May we admit our own weaknesses rather than emphasizing our strengths. We need each other. We are tools to help each other grow. Let us decide that these eternal relationships are more important than being right, being offended and protecting ourselves. Your pride is temporary, but these brothers and sisters are forever. Value them.
May we be quick to forgive, for unforgiveness is the poison we drink hoping another will die. Choose to be bitter and cynical is only weighing us down rather than the person we hold grudges against. Why not be the first to apologize?
May we choose grace over judgement. Let’s expect the best. We all have different areas we need to grow in, and we would like grace where we are lacking, no? “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
May we choose humility and servanthood over climbing to the top, for the best way up is down. A good leader is a servant who cares about the people- not a manager who values their title. It is never safe for someone to be in authority if they can’t handle being under authority.
May we invest our time in money in things that truly have value now and in the future- family, children, The Kingdom, love, service rather than trivial things that only keep us entertained for a moment.
May we choose to focus on whatever is beautiful, lovely and life-giving rather than what is lacking, for what we focus on grows. Oftentimes, we fall into the belief that the problem is surrounding us when nine times out of ten, it’s a problem with our perspectives.
May we press in and press through when things are hard, for trials make the best soil for deeply-rooted strength. Don’t give up. Breakthrough takes time.
May we choose to encourage rather than destroy with our words, for words have power. What comes out of your mouth can create a different atmosphere. You can speak great things into existence or misery. “Life and Death is in the power of the tongue.”
May we choose to live a better story, for what a tragedy if would be for life to pass us by.
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Love you madly, Sara Torres
P.S. I’ll be home for Christmas, so bring on the eggnog, the ice-skating and the chestnuts roasting by an open fire.
