Are there any people out there that just want to do something to change the world? I mean make the world better than it was than when you were first born. I have always been very passionate. Passionate about my faith, passionate about math, passionate about reading, passionate about recycling, passionate about fairness, passionate about not overspending—really just passionate about life. I read Irresistible Revolution and then Radical and I just was ready to be so different from everyone else—to take risks and to make my change in the world.
I read this article recently that really changed the way I feel about being radical. It was in Relevant Magazine and was titled, “When Revolutionaries Grow Up: Can you be radical and responsible?” Chrissy has been a missionary with her husband in several places around the world.
I’ve always had trouble with appreciating what I had. I’ve either wanted more than I had, which I have realized is unhealthy, but I have now hit the other side of the spectrum—I am unhappy with how much I have. I just want to get rid of everything and live more simply. We mentioned this in a previous blog, but I am really looking forward to the simplicity that the World Race will bring. It may be only a year, but that is a whole year that I will only have what is on my back. It sounds like heaven to me. No sentimental things from when I was younger or Ty and I’s first date, just necessities. There will be nothing holding us down. No apartment payments, no furniture, no car; just the items we carry on our back. What has scared me the most is coming back. Coming back to America. I hate the need to want more that I so desperately get entangled into. I hate striving to work more for a bigger house, a better car, or more relaxing vacations. Why can’t I just be happy to give some of what I have to those who don’t have clean water? Or open my home up to feed orphans or take care of widows? Now I’m ranting.
Back to the article. Chrissy stated that one of the most interesting things they encountered as they were submersed into other cultures was the way people with very little money spent the amounts they had. They would splurge to buy coke and at first Chrissy and her husband would question what else the money could have gone for, but then they realized how happy it made them to enjoy a coke.
They realized that no one who is poor wants us as Americans not to enjoy what we have been given. They don’t ask for us to feel guilty but for our appreciation. “Impoverished people don’t want us to be miserable…God is a God of banquets and fine wine and a fattened calf.” After all Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding. God never asked us not to celebrate life. She goes on to address the other side of the spectrum which is overindulgence. The fact that I don’t have to feel bad for having more, helps me to realize that this guilt I was having was not me thinking about others, but just another way of being selfish. If I am to poor into others what God has given to me, I have to be grateful and happy about the things which I can enjoy.
With that being said, we have some needs for our trip. We are still about $20,000 under our fundraising goal, so if you are able, we could really use the financial support now because our next deadline is December 18th. We need $1,900 to meet that deadline and were hoping to get the rest of the money pledged or given by January 10th. We also have a wish list which includes some items that will allow us to be more comfortable, so that we can be less weary with the things we must bring. We added all these things on a website called wishpot, so if you want to, check it out.
