So it was December 2009, and April had been talking about this “World Race” thing for a while, saying that this was something God had put on her heart. She was confused that God had put this on her heart, but not mine. A group of students and former students from my school were organizing a road trip from our native Baton Rouge, LA to Kansas City, MO to go to the “onething” conference at the International House of Prayer. As soon as I heard about it, I felt a pull on my heart that this was something I wanted to be a part of, that God would reveal His will in a big way if I went.
I was talking to a friend of mine (http://davidstothart.theworldrace.org/) who at that time was on the verge of leaving for the January Race. I had already planned to spend the last week of December with him before he flew out of Baton Rouge, but this was the same week as “onething.” So, I told him about the conference and that I thought God might want me to go and hear from Him, and before I ask if he was okay with my changing plans at the expense of days of our final stretch of hangout time before he left the country for a year, David said, “That’s awesome. You’re gonna go, and God is gonna speak to you.” Keep in mind that I hadn’t even made up my mind about whether or not I was going to “onething,” and April was leaning against it, but that word spoken over me pretty much sealed the deal.
So I went, and it was amazing. I had the chance to pour into some existing relationships (Steffen, Timmy, Chris, Chad, Kat, Lauren O, Max, Hannah, and Joseph; I’m talking about you!) I also met some really cool new people. (Matt, Lauren A, Lauren W, Robyn, Scott, Josiah…just to name a few… Dang, we had a big group!) Most of all, it was a chance for me to get away from the day-to-day and spend some serious quality with my Father.
The passage that God kept bringing to my heart was Matthew 11:28-30: “Are
you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me… Walk with me
and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of
grace.” (The Message) The whole idea of the “unforced rhythms of grace” pretty much defined that trip for me. I ended up spending hours each day napping the hotel and reading my bible alone. This may sound strange to do at a conference that I had to ride 14 hours in a minivan to get to, where thousands have people had gathered, but it was exactly I needed and He spoke it to me clearly, “Get away with me. Rest in me. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me… Walk with me
and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of
grace.” (The Message) The whole idea of the “unforced rhythms of grace” pretty much defined that trip for me. I ended up spending hours each day napping the hotel and reading my bible alone. This may sound strange to do at a conference that I had to ride 14 hours in a minivan to get to, where thousands have people had gathered, but it was exactly I needed and He spoke it to me clearly, “Get away with me. Rest in me. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
The second morning of the conference I straight up asked God, “Do you want me to go on the Race?” expecting a confirmation of “No,” but I was fairly certain He said, “Yes.” That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I pushed the idea out of my mind. Later that day at the conference, during the praise and worship time, we were encouraged to just open ourselves up to the love of the Father. I was telling God that I loved Him when he asked me, “Then will you go?”
A wave of humility crashed over me and I fell into my chair. It was then that I knew. He wanted me to go, and in a very direct and undeniable way, He reminded me of what the Word says about loving God: that to obey Him is to love Him (John 14:15). I didn’t want to go, and I told Him that, not out of defiance, but just talking to Him about my reservations. I was afraid. I thought of all the strong, growing friendships that April and I had in Baton Rouge. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was really putting down roots. I didn’t want to disturb that. He asked me how much harder would it be for me if I had roots in one place my whole life, something that many Racers have and give up to go into the field for a year. It was then that I knew that there was no turning back: I was going on the Race.
