As I rode up the escalator I sighed thinking of the next ten days ahead of me, so unsure of what was to come. As I exited the escalator I began to ponder the idea that in just seconds my life would change forever, as I met the people who I would be traveling around the world with for the next year. I debated just hanging out by myself as I thought about the grueling process of getting to know 40 new people. Luckily I decided against this loner thought and I retrieved my luggage and went to seek out my new teammates. I looked across the sea of people and within seconds saw a few eyeing me as I eyed them. I later learned that they were playing the game that I would soon play that involved scoping out everyone to see if they looked like a World Racer (a big backpack usually gave it away, but in my case a bright yellow plaid Mexico bag gave it away HAHA). I don’t know if I looked the part but I saw the sign saying World Race and I approached them to meet some of my new best friends. Within the first few seconds of meeting them I knew I liked them and soon began to love them.
It was crazy to meet so many people who had been called by God to the same thing as I had been called to. Our hearts I soon learned were so similar in our desire to serve the Lord despite the sacrifices. And it comforted me to know that their families kind of thought they were a little crazy too. Why would you want to live out of a backpack and sleep on a camping mat for a year? Why not is our answer! We get to listen to the Lord and serve Him around the world. Don’t get me wrong, I think we all had our moments and we will continue to have them when we question why we are going to abandon everything we know to be uncomfortable for a year.
As I begin to consider the things and comforts that I will abandon in January I am reminded of how superficial and worldly most of these things are. Sometimes I am ashamed of my want for worldly things to entertain me. I want to enjoy the simplicity of life and love, but what does that look like? Can I not have and want “Elle” the Element or my fabulously soft orange body pillow? I don’t know. My desire is to learn about simplicity and how that intertwines with God’s desires. If you have thoughts on simplicity please share with me I want to know them and what the Lord has taught you.
I am excited about the next few months as I begin my preparations for the World Race. My world did change when I walked into the Atrium in the Atlanta airport and met ” my new best friends”, but all for the better. I am already a different person than I was before the World Race training camp and I look forward to the immense changes I will encounter between now and November 2008.
I leave you with this challenge: Ask God to reveal to you how you have confined him and put him in a box. I recently realized that my GOD BOX was useless because God is not BOXXY (not sure if that is a word, but it is now). Boxes are pretty predictable and common BUT GOD IS NOT. Take some time to enjoy the presence of the Lord today!
