Hi there,
The picture below is the best I can do to describe myself. The question of identity is difficult. They say a person is the just sum of all events that happen in their life.
Jesus is everything. He’s what everything is all about. Home is where he is. If you have him, then you have all that you need. Though I grew up going to church, my competitive nature and drive to excel had become a wall between me and Christ. You can’t earn God’s love. He just gives it, free of charge.
I’ve had several important moments in my life. Once, taking a class in Amsterdam a white-bearded pastor told me, “Jesus is waiting for you.”
How’s that for a statement?
The room was full of people and I was probably the most “experienced” Christian in the group. Baptized at ten. Small group leader at my high school. Volunteer at Church camps. Great student. All-round good guy. Great at being humble.
Not really.
I’m mean, yeah, I did all that stuff, but all this had become an obstacle between me and Jesus. I had so many doubts. I remember sharing some of my doubts with a close friend one night. “Zach,” he said, “if anyone ‘gets’ God, you do.”
Imagine yourself in a conversation where the other person does all the talking. That was me. I was doing all the talking and God couldn’t get in a word edge-wise. Well, the pastor in Amsterdam got through to me.
But I didn’t know what to do.
I can hardly write this without crying. God’s grace is so good. The Bible is full of stories about him reaching out to people in dire straights. Remember Samson? It’s my favorite story. It could have been about me. Samson didn’t have a great relationship with God. He just did his own thing. But when he reached rock-bottom he finally spoke to God, “Lord, remember me…”
God loves a humble heart. He remembered Samson. He remembered me. It took me a while to shut up and let God do the leading, but it has been so so sweet since then.
I did the Race in 2014, became a World Race Squad Leader in 2015, and then returned home in 2016. I spent the last two years studying to get into medical school. Now I’m Squad Leading again.
I just can’t get enough of the World Race and mission work 🙂
