It’s month 10. Almost 11. I’ve done this whole, ‘traveling-the-world-adventure,’ thing now for almost a year.
And I am sooo grateful for the experience.
There’s days I sit and am nothing more than completely overwhelmed by what I’ve seen and what I’ve begun to process. Going back to Colorado?…yes, I’m beyond excited. Even with everything that seems to be going on there on the homefront. But I’ve gained a couple new perspectives I’d like to share throughout my travels. And while some of these may or may not relate, I’ve learned how unique we are–in the good and bad.
1. Addicted to outrage:
Sounds a bit rash, but this trip has seemed to highlight this unfortunate reality. Traveling makes me dependent on social media and new’s anchors for the latest updates, because I really do love being informed. Yet, if ever I turn on the news, look to facebook, check those tweets—someone said something dumb, offensive, rude, that managed to make the headlines. And sure, we can blame those who dig deep to find such outrageous things to discuss, but potentially its because the basic principle of supply and ‘demand’ keeps them going.
The community of online anger, televised rebuttal, and late night topics—somehow seems to unite us.
And while standing together, yes, is important—we can’t become about highlighting the wrong instead of edifying life. The church historically has been slow to rise to the battle cry of atrocities—but why not ‘be a place for the outraged to come too?’ -Jesse Carey
Grace unlike rage isn’t loud…but it’s powerful.
2. Our finite cravings:
Gluttony, we hardly use this word. And when we do…I feel like I think of someone sitting down and consuming 4 tubs of ice cream, 8 sodas, 2 chipotle burritos, and 1 bag of popcorn. You know, like overdoing it with food. I recently read an article with the definition of gluttony being simply a:
‘soul’s addiction to excess.’
And our desire for this excess, for more, stems from our unsatisfaction. Americans get the gold medal for constantly needing the next and biggest and best. In fact, we could take the silver and bronze for it too. And while craving ‘more’ especially in the kingdom, is never a bad thing—our cravings are so often misdirected. Our internal desire for excess propels our daily lives and even our dreams. And by this definition, the most toned athlete, the most successful businessman, the healthiest diet, the facebook addict…can struggle with this reality.
3. The land of variety:
They tell the stories of racers coming back from the race, and having a meltdown in the cereal box isle. Honestly—I can’t wait to run victory laps around Wal-Mart. We live in a place of options and availability. Here, not only do you have to guess the difference between goats, sheep, or cows milk, but the likelihood of places having oatmeal or Dr. Pepper is slim pickins. Next time your in the store, look at the options. We’ve been blessed with availability. A place where Pinterest can come to life, where dreams can be tangibly reached in a way that seems alien over here.
4. Our herald to individualism:
I love being an individual.
I’ve been coined the 3rd weirdest person on our squad with a tendency to make people laugh and to be slightly crazy. I am unique. I like cold macaroni and cheese and would smother everything with ranch if humanly possible. I am different.
We all are. And we love it. There’s no way to identically be like someone else. So, in our trendy society with individualism as the common denominator–we can easily thrive.
And I don’t believe individualism is bad. Not at all. It’s what makes the body of Christ a body–not just a hodgepodge of the exact same people. But I think often in America, our culture has made it a virtue. An excellence to strive for.
Living in the World Race community, being stripped of comforts, undergoing a process of abandonment—I’ve been shown the reality of how my individualism has unfortunately given me a set of myopic eyes in the context of the body of christ. Unfortunately, it’s easy to live our lives in a social ‘pageant of vanity.’ Where the latest ‘fb’ updates, selfies, snapchats, conversations—direct everything back to us.
Just the other day, I ordered a coke at a small hole in the wall restaurant. They brought out 7 glasses of ice, and my one drink. Because it’s culturally rude here, not to share. Not to think of others. ‘Togetherness’ is a lifestyle.
5. A banner of freedom:
One of my teammates tells a story of being in Latvia and a woman saying she could tell when people were American, not by their accent or skin color, but by how they walk.
Because they walk like free people.
wow.
People who know freedoms that others don’t. We are beyond blessed to live in the country we live in. Yes, it has it’s faults. But the banner of opportunities that still waves over our country is unlike any other place I’ve been. We live in this euphoric land to those overseas. A place of holleywood, superheros and big houses. And I know, I get it. The reality isn’t as whimsical as that may sound. We do live in a place of pain and frustration–
but know that people abroad…see a beauty that I hope we never let escape us in the midst of our busy lives.
