As I begin this journey called the World Race, I keep having conversations with people about all aspects of it and usually at some point the question “what made you want to do that” comes up. Honestly, I’m not really sure how to answer that. I’m not completely sure that I “want” to do this. I don’t mean that in a negative way at all; it’s just that I feel more called to do it.
Some of my closest friends in Lexington are Race alumni, and we’ve had lots of conversations about what it’s like in the field. It’s nice to know people that have gone, because they don’t sugar coat it. They tell me it’s hard. You are uncomfortable, hungry, exhausted, dirty, challenged, and pushed to the limits.
But isn’t that almost like being a Christ follower? When you take up the cross and surrender your life to Jesus, He doesn’t promise it’ll be easy or pretty. But I can’t imagine any other kind of life. I keep thinking about the Race being this great adventure. I love to travel, I love to meet people from different places, and I love to see new things. However, while the mission trip will be those things, going on the Race isn’t about that kind of adventure for me.
The more I think and pray about going on this journey, the more I realize that it’s a different type of adventure. It’s the adventure that comes with surrendering all that I am and all that I have to follow Jesus. Laying down my career plans, comforts, and my family for almost a year will be tremendously difficult. Yet, I get to go on this crazy adventure chasing after my Savior and carrying the good news of Him to people around the world. People are hurting in my city, in this country, and around the world, and the only thing that will help heal their hearts is the love and grace shown to us by Jesus.
I cannot wait to see how God unfolds this plan of His. While I won’t leave until September, I feel that God is already leading me on this journey. He is helping me to lay down my desires and chase His plan for my life.
So what made me want to do this? The grace and love that Jesus has shown me has made me want to do this. The fact that people around the world need to hear the good news that I’ve come to know makes me want to go. The realization that this is exactly what God wants for me confirms to me that this is right.
He calls each of us on a crazy adventure chasing after Him. And for me that means 11 countries, 11 months and a whole lot of loving people from here to the ends of the earth.
Romans 10:15
