I think it’s important to say that the World Race is hard.
The temptation to share the good times and nothing else with you is real.
Truthfully, the World Race is one big AFGE. Now what is an AFGE (pronounced: AF-GEE), you ask?
Another freaking growth experience.
A wise woman shared this clever acronym with me once and it’s been more useful than I could have ever expected.
The expression communicates my sentiment toward all the things that are pushing me to grow this year.
Another because they are constant. God refuses to leave me as I am, and there’s quite a lot of growing to be done.
Freaking because I don’t particularly desire the pain that comes with growing, even if the outcome is what I hope for.
Growth because that’s the whole point, isn’t it?
Experience because it’s what I walk through in my mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual journey that shapes me into the next stage of who I am.
I love this expression because it’s a perspective turner. When something goes wrong and I’m tempted to blame the stupid, stinkin’, no good world for it all, I can remember that every hard thing is an opportunity for growth. I may not like the hard things, but wishing them away doesn’t make me a better version of myself; the version which more closely mirrors the image of Jesus.
I have to press in.
The word growth gets thrown around a lot, but what exactly does it mean for me these days?
In reading on, you’ll find a list of the things that make this journey hard. The AFGEs, if you will. These are not bad, per se. They are boulders, big and small, that I must climb over to reach new heights of maturity, compassion, love, and service.
Honestly, even writing this blog is an AFGE of sorts. I tend to be choosy with what I am vulnerable about, making the vulnerability piece kind of void. If I only share the deep things that are easy to share, that’s not exactly vulnerability.
The fear is you’ll read this and point your judging finger my way. You’ll misunderstand me for a complainer or negative Nancy. And if you do, I’ll have the opportunity to grow from that. You see how this thing works?
A hard thing cannot be a bad thing if it’s taken to the Lord. He transforms the painful to the redeemed. The process is hard but the results are worthwhile.
So, here goes nothing. Some AFGEs as of late are:
Lack of wifi. And when there is wifi, lack of good wifi. God is teaching me to stay present.
I ask our host family to repeat themselves ten times because I can’t understand their fast-tempo Spanish. God is making me more patient and a better listener.
We got robbed in the woods. God is showing me how to give my fears to him and rejoice in the trials.
I wanted to withdraw from the relationships on my team that are not natural or easy for me. God is reminding me that he never once gave up on me.
My students have to be taught how to listen, how to be respectful, and how to learn. God is teaching me that we all start somewhere.
We can’t flush our pee and showers are short because of limited water supply. God is showing me to be grateful for what I take for granted at home. He’s also teaching me that I don’t need to flush my pee or have other petty physical comforts to be content.
The catcalls are getting increasingly creepy. God is teaching me to have compassion for the men who make me uncomfortable.
I miss my people at home. God is leading me to depend on him for my joy.
I have to be cautious with spending because I don’t have an income this year. God is teaching me that he provides everything I need. If I don’t need it, it’s okay not to have it all.
Living in community means everyone has a different level of sensitivity; we all have different triggers. God is teaching me gentleness.
In the last couple of years, God has brought me to a place of gratitude for the hard times.
When I hit my bottom two and a half years ago, I had no choice but to listen to people who seemed to have something I didn’t: joy.
In doing that, I learned I always have the choice to bring every hard thing to Jesus. The Redeemer he is won’t allow the ugly hurts to stay ugly. He turns them into victory, so long as we lay them at the cross.
