Yes, I said it. Sometimes I hate the World Race.
It’s so easy to look at the World Race and over spiritualize it. It’s easy to look at pictures and read blogs and think “They are such incredible Christians for giving up so much and doing all these great things for the Kingdom.” I almost wonder if it doesn’t make some people feel as though they’re less incredible if they don’t do something like this?
Now, I’m not saying I hate what the World Race does. I love that they take you to countries, completely engulf you in authentic culture, and get you involved in local ministries. I’m not trying to take away from the fact that it’s a life changing experience. But, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. It’s not all vanilla ice cream with cherries on top. It’s real life. And life can be done anywhere you are.
My fear is that people read World Race blogs, watch month summary videos, and stalk the #11n11 hashtag on Instagram and over glorify World Racers into these flawless individuals who are making huge leaps for God’s kingdom. I did it myself when I was looking into this 11 month journey. I watched videos, I read blogs, I stalked Instagram, and in my mind I nearly turned it into this mystical experience that seemed so far out of reach it was more of a dream than real life. And in doing so, I underestimated my ministry in little Winston Salem, North Carolina, and barely on the map Mansfield, Ohio. I’ll tell you right now the pictures, the videos, the posts… they’re usually a World Race highlight reel. What isn’t talked about is the times when you want to pull your hair out because you’re so fed up with your teammates clothes being sprawled out all over the room. Or the times when you’re sick of your teammates snoring all night every night. Or the times when you don’t want to teach another English class because you’ve never seen yourself as a teacher, yet you find yourself frustratingly teaching English… every. single. month. Or the times when you wake up on the wrong side of your Exped air mat, don’t want to fake being in a “good mood” for the day, and, as a result, have a bad attitude toward ministry. There’s also those entire months, like my month in Honduras, where you’re angry with God, burnt out with worship, prayer, ministry and don’t even want to open your Bible.
No. No one ever talks about those times. Those moments where if you could have read my mind you would’ve wondered… “Is she even a Christian?”
I promise you, us World Racers are no more qualified than anyone else in this world. We’re humans. Beautifully flawed. A beautiful mess.
I’ll end with this. I understand why the World Race staff has people write blogs, make videos, and take pictures. If they want to continue sending racers around the world, people need to know what the World Race is and what they do. And it’s an awesome way to share the miracles God is doing all over the world. So, yes, I understand, but I encourage you not to look at the blogs, videos, and pictures and over spiritualize it. If you never even go on a “missions trip” you’re no less “incredible” than us World Racers. Life on the race really isn’t all that different than being married, raising children, going to work each day, and living life in North America. There are highs and lows. Dull moments and adventurous moments. Good days and bad days. The days where if you could read a mind you’d wonder “are they even a Christian?”
And the fact of the matter is… your spouse, your children, your job, your friends, your relatives, your church? That’s all a ministry too. Ministry is a lifestyle… not a trip around the world.
