Manistry. If you are a guy on the race, this is probably a month that you cant wait for. I mean, when you are surrounded by 30+ women a lot of the time, it sounds refreshing to just be with your bros for a month. Even when I signed up for the race, I heard about this month and was over the moon about it. Then I got into the groove of things with a coed team, and I realize more about myself and my comforts…
We arrive in Malaysia and instantly split off from the girls teams, and arrive the next day at our ministry site. Twelve men constantly together for one month. Oofta. This was quite the change. Guys just act different, we all know that, but especially when they are around other guys. It’s bro time all the time.
If you know me, you know this isn’t the normal pattern of my life.
You know that I tend to have 1 guy that I keep close, but that’s about it.
You know that I almost always hang out with girls.
It’s never what I try to do… It just happens. I feel more at ease around them, I feel like I can be myself around them.
So you can imagine how different it was for me to leave the girls at the airport. You can imagine that this month would be a wakeup call for me. It was hard at first. I didn’t know where my place was. I saw friendships forming that I was jealous of, and moments to be had that I wasn’t necessarily a part of. But because of this, I was reminded who I actually was. I was reminded that people love me for me. I was reminded that I didn’t need put on any sort of mask to fit in with these guys.
What started out as the hardest month for me, quickly became a month that I love. I love spending time with my brothers. They point out my blindspots and they encourage me in my strengths. They show me what it means to be a true man of God, and to love without condition. Each of these men have taught me valuable lessons that have brought me closer to Jesus. Each of these men have given me the push to go on, especially in the jungle of Malaysia when it’s not always easy.
The X-MEN have become my brothers. I am so blessed to do life with them everyday of this month, and press in with these guys throughout the race. The X-MEN are men of honor and integrity. The X-MEN are people who know how to lead and know how to be vulnerable. The X-MEN are people I am stoked to have in my life, because if it came down to it they would all drop anything to be there for me.
So this month I abandoned my comforts and I refuse to put on any masks. I choose to be me, because that is exactly who God wants me to be.
Read Romans 8:17 and you’ll see where I get my confidence and place my identity, and I challenge you to do the same.
There is no one better to be than yourself.
In Him,
Caleb Callaway
These are the men that I have the privilege of calling brothers (Thomas, David, Jonathan, Derek, and Davante are not pictured)
Also,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
