“Your accounts are full but all you’ve found is that you’re empty
Ain’t it funny how the simple things in life are the only things that really matter
Your life is complicated, found your dreams are overrated, now you’re old and wanna go back, but you can’t
We’re rich, but we don’t got no money
We’re just a bunch of kids”
-Rich Kids, Judah and The Lion
Americans fantasize daily about the beautiful tropical beaches along the pacific coast of Central America. They dream of drinking coconuts while lounging on the beach as they “dive into the culture”. They spend their days on expeditions from cool rainforest adventures to zip-lining tours, all for that great photo opportunity. Hundreds of dollars get spent as they breeze past all the beauty right in front of them, but if only they would look and not just look through a lens.
This past weekend some of my squad-mates and I took the great opportunity to hop the border on into Costa Rica and spend the weekend on Tamarindo Beach. As we arrived we quickly saw the inflated prices of everything and anything, for example sunscreen was a brutal 10 dollars. I should have bought some before the trip because now I look like a roasted tomato…but thats besides the point, sorry mom. Our experiences were nothing like the many other “vacationers”. I struggled to find a meal under five dollars and I found myself eating tacos at a street vendor, I honestly had no shame about that one. It quickly overwhelmed me to see the large amounts of money getting dropped on the worldly treasures of this place. The real treasure was lying right beyond the horizon each night, God painted a beautiful canvas of a sunset each night and people would daily overlook the lovely sight.
Leaving Costa Rica, I found myself terrified of what life is going to look like when I come home. People all around spend their money on unnecessary things, I fell victim to it before I left as well. The Race has truly taught me how to live on essentials, and essentials only. I live this beautifully filthy life out of a stuff sack and an unpacked backpack. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though, not even Taco Bell. I’d choose this life over the money rules everything culture back home.
I can’t help but think back to when Jesus called some of His soon-to-be disciples to leave everything and follow Him, so they could be fishers of men. I relate to how they left everything so they could truly gain the one thing so many of us are searching for. I finally have the sight to see what dependence on the Lord really means.
As we enter into the eighth month on the race, Ive had a lot of time to reminisce on the past experiences I’ve lived through. I have been living in the heart of each country with an abundance of their real culture surrounding me. I’ve lived in a Cambodian village where children were getting trafficked and abused. I taught english, without a teaching degree, to adorable Thai and even Cambodian children. Thailand also gave me the opportunity to work alongside people who fell victim to leprosy. In South Africa, I was able to teach physical education to kids who never learned responsibility or even discipline until they were taught how to play soccer. I also attended a vocally beautiful Xhosa church in Masiphumelele, South Africa. Now I’m serving at a rockin’ children’s home on an island in Nicaragua. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to live this life that the Lord has blessed me with.
After Costa Rica, the Lord really just saturated me in His presence and showed me that was enough. He was enough for me. As I enter into this closing season of the Race, I catch myself needing to live a life of more thankfulness. I want to be able to take that with me wherever my feet get planted.
Tonight I saw a sunset that bought me to tears, and I heard the faint whisper telling me to stop and stare at whats right in front of me. Don’t take for granted the beauty the Lord has lavished upon us, He’s the real beauty.
Updates:
-I come home May 28th!! THAT IS NEXT MONTH!!!
-I am officially attending Liberty University as a Global Studies Major. Yeah… You best believe it!
-I’ll be working on Younglife Summer Staff at Saranac Lake this Summer as a Baker. Heck Yeah!!!!!
– God is rockin’ life here. Catch ya’ll soon
Love always
vick
