Lately I've been feeling somewhat mechanical in my faith. It's been very strange. I've felt irritated, exhausted, bored, and sometimes slightly useless. More susceptible to sin and all the junk it brings. Ever since TC I've felt that I was closer to God than ever before. Regular quiet times, amazing talks with God, and above everything else a genuine desire to grow closer to Him. So this recent outcrop of stupid feelings has been particularly strange. Maybe it's because we're getting closer to launch? I have no idea.
Normally when I get like this one of the things that helps me out is blogging. This is a post I've been thinking about for a long time, but wasn't sure when or how to put it into words. I think I've got it now. I want to tell you about a big legacy in my life. One that I continually look to for support, understanding, and strength in my life. Whether they know it or not.
You may have already read why I'm going on the Race, (if not, go read it! It's fantastic.) but theres's a bit more to it than that. I mentioned how my family has been my biggest group of fans through everything. I don't think anyone understands me or why I would want to do this journey better than they do. But there are two men in my family that helped me decide to go on the Race, and, again. they probably had no idea.
Both of my grandfathers have been nothing but a positive, strong influence on my life. Hiram Powell (Grandaddy, my dad's dad) and Paschal Thomas (GeeGee, my mom's dad) are two of the strongest Christian men I know. If I am half the man they are when I get to be that age I would consider myself lucky. I grew up on all their wild and crazy stories of all they've done in their lives. Grandaddy was in World War II as a radioman on a plane in the Pacific, making his stories always interesting. But not to be outdone, GeeGee has gone all over the place with World Changers and still helps with a homeless ministry. It's not just that these men have done incredible things in their lives or that they raised my parents to be the fantastic people they are today. It's that they quietly instilled in me a fantastic desire to grow and strive in my faith, to make something of my life. Not to just sit around and talk about living.
When I was a kid, I always loved hearing them talking about their lives. Grandaddy would impart some crazy war story or talk about the days he was a missionary in Africa. GeeGee would talk about the prison ministry, or the house he built for World Changers, or even the homeless person he helped that very morning because he saw they needed help. I would look through all of the things they had accumulated through the years. All of the African stuff Grandaddy has, or the photos and tools GeeGee has accumulated through the years. It used to be just stories. Just cool stuff (the African knives and staffs are Grandaddy's house were an especially big hit with my brother and me) that came from places and times I would probably never go. It hasn't been until recently that I've realized all of their stories and things impacted me, gave me a desire to travel, to go and make my own stories, to live as they live. It isn't just the stories or the stuff either, it's the men themselves.
Talking to my grandfathers you'd find them to be two quiet men. They don't throw their faith around like a banner or anything like that. They aren't in the streets yelling at people or telling the world how great their Christianity is. No, what my grandfathers do is act. Just like always. GeeGee gets up at 4:30 and goes help feed and care for the homeless. He still builds stuff in his shop for people, not asking for money or anything. He just wants to help. Grandaddy cares for those around him, and never meets a stranger. If he hadn't fallen recently, I'm almost positive he'd be out there building and fixing things for people as well. They just act. They show the love of Christ to those around them through their actions and soft quiet words. Through the ways they love their families. Through their stories and encouragement. Through their advice and wisdom. Through their humor and good natured attitudes. They aren't using fluffed up jargon and big speeches. They're intentional. They give their things and their time. They go and do. Just like they always have.
This is possibly the greatest gift they have ever given me. The gift of knowing exactly what my faith should look like. Exactly how I should act. The perfect example of what it is to live your life as a Godly man. I look up to these two men far more than they've probably ever known. Their stories, their actions, and their faith is what helped me make the decision to go on the Race. To make my own stories, have my own crazy experiences, and do everything I can to further the kingdom. I want to come back home next year able to relate to them more and swap stories about the craziness of Africa or what kind of tools we did or didn't use to build some building in Thailand. Their constant love and support throughout life (and especially now as I get ready to leave) means the world to me. On days or weeks like this one, where I can't seem to get out of a rut it brings me joy and drive to remember these men. All the things they've been through, things I will never have to go through and how they came out on the other side stronger for it. On days like this it gives me solace to remember that I am a Powell man with Thomas blood running through my veins, and I can get through anything with the help of my Eternal Father in Heaven. Just like Grandaddy and GeeGee.
Still trucking on,
Seth
