Last night I was overtired and overwhelmed. I decided to go somewhere that I was familiar with, and somewhere that made me comfortable… For me, that was my gym in Boulder, Colorado.

Normally, I go into my own world during my workouts, and I don’t interact with anyone. Last night was so different. During my workout, a stranger walked up to me and handed me a rose, wishing me a happy Valentine’s Day. A group of girls I had met the previous night saw me and waved hello. A few men in the sauna wanted to externally process yesterday’s shooting in Florida, and wanted to know my opinion on how different people heal. The staff asked me about my day, related to where I was at, and encouraged me.

I had shown up to the gym alone, and I walked into community with people who had this in common with me: they cared. And you know what? It meant the world to me. It gave me hope, let me feel loved, and brought a smile to my face. And honestly, it reminded me of how Jesus shows up in our lives, and why I am going on The World Race.

 

The World Race

The World Race is an 11-month mission trip to 11 different countries;
it’s for adventurous souls and those who are hungry.
Hungry to seek, and hungry to give,
hungry to know how to help and how to live.

I will get to teach English to those who want to learn,
I will get to hug orphans who feel forgotten and burned.
I will get to speak life to those who feel consumed by death,
and I will get to do manual labor for those who have nothing left.
I will get to speak truth over slaves to the sex industry who don’t know their worth,
and because God is good I will be able to see and experience new places and cultures here on this earth.

I know this won’t be easy, and I know I’ll miss home,
but I believe I’ve been well prepared and I’m ready to go.
And I know I won’t change everyone in the world,
or be able to fix every bad situation I observe.
But here’s the thing: I don’t need to be a savior!
Jesus has that covered, and my job is to walk forward in faith and be braver
than I ever could be alone.

Especially after last night, I believe my team and I can make a difference, 
and with Christ we can overcome any hindrance…
because at the end of the day, whether someone is fighting anxiety or depression,
whether they feel completely alone or they feel their life is an unfixable mess and
whether they’re a victim of abuse or an unfair situation,
or if they’re addicted without hope of rehabilitation…
if they’re screaming for help and still feel unheard,
or if they’re drowning in the overwhelming nature of this world…
sometimes, all it takes for things to start to get better
is for someone to show up.

That’s why I’m going to be a World Racer.