REAL LIFE
This month feels like “real life”. Life outside of the Race… We live in an apartment where I have my own room including a bathroom, closet, full-size mirror, office desk and chair, and comfy bed. That isn’t often found on the Race, if ever. I live by a set routine basically doing the same thing five days a week. Our ministry is much like having a job back home. So how do I feel about this “real life” experience on the Race? Well, it’s actually something I was hoping for to possibly ease the blow of transitioning back home. What its made me become aware of is the fact that I’m afraid of “real life”.
As us Racers approach the end of this season on the Race, we begin facing many lies about ourselves and this year spent on the field. Here are some lies that I’ve been hearing this month:
“You have not grown this year.”
“You will only revert back to the way you were.”
“You will fall back into old habits.”
“You won’t be successful.”
“You will be too weak to stand against sexual sin.”
Those are just some of the lies that I/we face here. Nevertheless, I fully KNOW that these are nothing but LIES. Lies that I refuse to be defeated by!
This month has given me the opportunity to practice what I preach which is against a lie that some people back home, what I’m calling “real life”, struggle with believing. This year is NOT what makes me a missionary. The fact that I’m traveling the nations, spreading the gospel in many countries, and loving on the fatherless and widowed, does NOT make me a missionary.
I’ve heard many times from people back home, “I wish I could be doing what you’re doing”. That is only one of many comments along those lines…
The opportunity that I’ve been given this year is nothing more than the opportunity you’ve been given this year. Your job, school, church, and every inch of the ground that you walk on is where the Lord has you and has given you the opportunity to love, share, give, and serve. Where you are, is also apart of the “All Nations” that the Lord talks about in Matthew 28:19. Then when/if the Lord does ask you to move, whether that is another city, state, or country, MOVE. You can come up with all the all kinds of excuses but there is no excuse that can lessen the Lords ability to get you there. Trust me, I had plenty of logical excuses of why I shouldn’t go on the Race. All in all, If you claim to know the Lord as your Savior, then YOU my friend are a MISSIONARY despite any other life status that you hold. That’s what makes me a missionary.
With all of that said, there is a question between the lines. One thing that I ask of you is please do not praise what I’m doing as something more than where the Lord has you and the opportunities in front of you.
This year has been more than a trip. I’ve actually taken that title off. I don’t like it. I also don’t like the fact that we/I consider life back home “real life”. This IS real life. Yeah, life back home will more than likely look a lot different with a whole new set of challenges and obstacles but it doesn’t weaken the Lords ability to work in and through us.
Also note to your self as I transition back home:
My hope was that this month’s ministry and possibly next month’s would sort of ease the transition back home. However, I don’t think there is a way to make that easy. Please know that and have a little grace for me as I walk through that and process upon my returning.
Your grass is just as GREEN as mine.
