Every week on the race we have reflection questions sent to us and we are required to send our answers to world race leadership to read over.
At the end of the month we have a question that asks “how is the abandonment process going and what else do you think God is calling you into to abandon?”
At first I loved this question. I found myself abandoning talking to my parents for a month, abandoning books to read my bible only, abandoning music to listen to Gods voice, abandoning excess clothes or products that could be donated to the local people…. but after 7 months the question has become quite dull for me.
I find myself (along with many of my squadmmates) saying “how much more do I need to abandon?” What else can we possibly give up???
My parents came this past week all the way to Rwanda to see me and do ministry with me (blog coming soon). I realized just how easy life has become without the comforts of this world. No running water, no problem. Sleeping in a tent, finally my own space. Eating beans, rice and potatoes every meal, of course! What else would we eat? Language barriers and slow service, I am not in a hurry.
Having my parents here made me realize that these are not normal struggles in the real world.
REAL WORLD. What is the real world? This is not to dish on my parents as they reminded me this week that “there is usually running water in the real world”. I stopped them in their tracks.
I am living in the REAL WORLD. Yes, in America we are privileged with all these things, but it was a wake up call to remind me that the life I am experiencing is the life most of the world experiences. A life where having a toilet, clean water and vegetables is a luxury. I have become so accustomed to living like the locals that most of the time I forget that toilets can even flush toilet paper or that the power can stay on all day without cutting out.
Sometimes as racers we talk about going back to the “real world” when we talk about going home. But here I am about to travel to my last continent, South America for my last 4 months and I have to remember that the world I am going back to is a word of privilege and wealth. America is a country where we are free to do or say whatever we want, to eat excessively, to drive in a car, to have water that never runs out, AC & heated homes. This is crazy!!! Crazy amazing but also crazy extra and comfortable.
I know I have written blogs on this before, but wow it is a beautiful thing to be stripped of it all and realize how little I need it all. It is amazing to see how happy I am wearing scrappy clothes, to take cold bucket showers & eat rice 3 times a day.
This is not a blog to condemn anyone of loving these comforts, because truly we are so blessed to grow up with such privelge, but I encourage anyone reading this to ask yourself what can you abandon? What can you give up to bless someone else? What is your money going towards? How are you using your time to help others?
We have so much influence as Americans. We have so many resources. We have high paying jobs, education and powerful tools to serve the real world outside of our own lives.
You don’t have to go abroad to serve, you can do it in your backyard. You don’t have to donate a $1000 but are you willing to sacrifice a $5 Starbucks to buy a homeless person a meal?
I realize that my life can be an extreme of what it looks like to abandon things like time and money, but there are small ways you can help too.
If there is ever a way to grow closer to God, it is to serve. To get to know people who have less than you. To give away the gifts God has given you. To be with the orphans, widows and vulnerable. To get out in the real world and truly serve!!
I am so grateful my parents got to see a glimpse of my world this week and I pray it does not stop here. I pray as they go home they can be a domino effect for their communities too. When you believe in Christ you have the Holy Spirit within you to be a light wherever you go. Your faith doesn’t have to be at a certain point or place, just go. Be the light in your job, share Christ with others in a coffee shop, serve your leftovers to the poor.
Take whatever God has given you and give it away.
The real world needs you & I promise as you abandon some of your time spent at the bars, the gym or watching t.v., you will create space for God to work in your life in big ways.
My first challenge is for you to abandon one thing, to make space to pray or read the Bible. It starts from the love of the Father who will pour love into you that will be a catalyst for you to pour into others. I challenge you to reflect on the gifts and resources you have to give away to others. I challenge you to look at how you spend your time and what motivates you to do what you do.
Get out in the real world & get to know people… how they live and who they are. You are a light that is not meant to be covered up or hidden.
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(P.S. World Race leadership I hope this blog is proof that I really do appreciate the abandonment question, even when I feel like there is nothing left to let go of. I am learning time and time again there is always more room to make for God and this question pushes me to reflect on how I am fully living for God in every aspect of my life.)
