In preparing for the World Race, I have been "assigned" to write a post detailing my expectations for life on this adventure. I’m certain of one: this is going to be hard. I expect to be uncomfortable, unsettled, and unsure at some (many) points along the way.
I think it’s fairly safe to say that many of us have heard the phrase, “It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey…” Those words seem so simple, so idealistic, almost pathetically clichéd by the overuse of well-intentioned bumper stickers and “profoundly moving” blockbusters. It’s that kind of sentiment that elicits an eye-roll of annoyance or even a sigh of disbelief from those who hear it.
I’m not exactly sure why that is. What’s wrong with that little adage? Does it seem cheesy?
Maybe it’s timing.
I am reminded of this very phrase in the many times when I forget to stay present in the day to day life and, instead, allow my mind to wander down the possible paths of what’s to come. There are so many exciting things ahead, why can’t I just be there already? That’s when those words resurface from wherever they were hiding to shake me from my daze and run off with my thunder.
It’s like breaking your leg and, when you’re miserable, handicapped, and in pain, someone says “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
No one wants to hear that. Bring that action anywhere close to me and I will put hands on you.
“It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey…”
Knee-jerk aversions aside, look at the truth behind those words. Not the journey you make to the grocery store. I’m talking about the pursuit of one’s goals and the paths taken to achieve them.
When I think about journeys and destinations in relation to the World Race, I realize that my “journey” doesn’t begin 8 months from now when I launch. It has already begun. My destinations and my aspirations are so much bigger than arriving in those eleven countries or returning home after eleven months abroad.
It’s not about the end game.
This journey that I'm on is one of personal stretching and of relational growth with my God as well as my team and squad mates; a spiritual marathon that will throw me into a place of dependency, insecurity, fear, and faith like I have never experienced before.
You can imagine the illustration of a donkey being led by a carrot on a stick. Sometimes I feel like God is dangling the World Race, like a carrot, in front of my face and, as I determinedly pursue — at times eagerly, at times hesitantly — I am learning, growing, and moving towards being the man and the follower of Christ that God intends me to be. There are times that I will stumble and become discouraged. I could become angry at myself and angry at God; thinking that I’ll never be a “good enough” Christian. I could doubt God’s plan and question why I was even doing this trip in the first place. Or, I can pick myself up, learn from my mistakes, maybe take a second to actually think about how I got here, and then start, again, after that carrot.
For now, my objective is trying to be prepared in every way possible for this challenge; spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I expect that this will be impossible. This particular portion of my journey is going to be interesting because I will learn a lot about myself, a lot about my limits and hopefully, a lot about overcoming those limits. I also plan on discovering more about my Heavenly Father and what it means to be a son of God. After a while, I’ll feel more ready for this journey. I have to open myself up to change and allow myself to be moved and shaped. Right now, it seems like I have a ways to go. But I'll get there.
Although I expect that I will be more challenged on the race than I have ever been before, I expect that there will be more amazing memories and experiences than I will know what to do with. I expect that I will also have the opportunity to see God move in some incredible ways. I expect that the way I know Christ and feel His love now is different from how I will know Him a year from now.
I expect and accept that all of my expectations will most likely be shattered to bits (hopefully in the best way possible.)
By going on the World Race, I am removing all the possible excuses that I use to avoid chasing after God and I am eliminating all the exits that I take to avoid being uncomfortable. I want to grow as a Christian but it’s very easy to dodge discomfort and change when I only make a half-hearted attempt in my very comfortable safety bubble.
I want to love and serve and minister to others on this mission trip, but I also want to grow, develop, and change myself personally and spiritually. That is my destination, my goal, and my expectation. Between myself and my destination is where the adventure lies.
Regardless of expectation, it will surely be a very interesting journey.
But hey, that’s the most important part, right?
…Right.
