Do you remember when you were a kid and you’d go into those hobby stores? You’d go into the science toys isle and you’d always find the most amazing toy in store, the rock tumbler.
It always seemed so simple. You throw in your boring, monotone rocks and then what you brought out was a priceless gem worthy of kings. The box always promised some amazing, huge rock that was blue or purple. Or something that glittered like it HAD to cost at least a million bucks.
So you convince your parents to buy it for you. You get it home. Throw in some stupid little gravel or whatever you can find in your yard. You turn it on. It makes a horrendously loud noise, but that’s ok because perfection is going to come out of this thing. You wait for what seems an eternity (15 minutes, probably) and look at your newfound treasures. Only to find it’s the same old rocks you threw in there. Maybe a new layer of dust inside.
This month has been like the rock tumbler. I went into this month with not many expectations. I was excited. I wanted to grow. What I got was so much more.
The thing about rock tumblers is it takes at least a month for some sort of results. This month I’ve been polished, beaten around, broken down, and made into something better. I’ve been whittled and polished. In a sense, this was my first REAL month on the Race.
It’s been hard. If you think about it, whittling, tumbling, and polishing are all techniques used to beat something up to make it better. Growing isn’t at all an easy process. I’ve begun to learn that. I’ve been chipped away, thrown around, and smoothed down into a bit of a different person.
My comfort zone died a little bit every day we went out to ministry. I did things like help teach English, sing songs in front of an indigenous church, do TWO Lifehouse skits, numerous unintentional hikes, building things I have no business building, shooting videos, cooking in general, and all sorts of other things.
Not to mention all the personal growth I went through with our team. I’ve gotten numerous challenges, feedback, and advice from my team this month. I’ve also gotten plenty from God. He’s taught me a lot about myself and how I relate to others. I’ve learned how to use my voice the way God intended to use it. I’ve been taught about my gifts and use them. He’s taught me a lot about forgiveness and grace. Taught me things I didn’t think I needed to know. Like how to live in a community. Or how to be one of only two guys on a 7 person team. All in all, I feel like a bit of different person. For the better. I’ve shed some of the layers that were old, ugly, and outdated. I’ve gotten closer to the polished creation God intends me to be.
There have been numerous times that I have been frustrated. Been stressed. Been annoyed with my team (and they annoyed with me, I’m sure). But that’s just the way of it. Changing from your old ways, and being called into what God has for you is no simple task. Nothing worth doing is easy. Especially organic, Christian growth.
You may think that I’m all sad, depressed, and worn down. You’re wrong. I wouldn’t have traded the way this month went for the world. It’s been easily my favorite month in Central America. It’s left me utterly spent, sure. But it’s a good kind of spent. Like the feeling you get after doing a workout that takes every bit of your strength. You’re exhausted, but it’s for a good reason.
In a few days I’ll be boarding a plane headed for Thailand. Asia is a place I never thought I’d visit, and I’m pumped. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for the BFF’s this coming month. I imagine it’ll be spectacular. Keep us in your prayers, we can always use it!
Tumbling around,
Seth
