Woahhhh so I made it! I’m actually in Thailand!!!
I was talking to one of my teammates and we both applied almost right when the application came out a year ago. And we were saying it’s crazy that we are finally here because the build up and waiting to go on the race for us actually lasted longer than we will be gone. So to say it’s crazy that I am finally on the race in Thailand is an understatement.
But actually getting to Thailand was no easy task. 5 flights, 5 airports, 3 days of travel, security check after security check. Leaders getting off the flight at the last minute. 14 hour flights to 1 hour flights. 12 hour layovers to 1 hour layovers. Switching from domestic to international terminals and then back again. Getting off the plane just to get back on the same exact plane 2 hours later. Lost bags, almost canceled flights, busses, trams, planes, taxis, and ubers. Talk about some crazy travel. And for me, boy oh boy was it stressful.
I am one of the logistics leaders for my squad. And if you’ve been on the race before, then you instantly know what those 3 days were like for me. If you haven’t, let me explain.
As one of the logistics leaders I am in charge of all money, transportation, flight info, airpot navigation, wrangling my awesome squad together and getting us to move as a unit through these crazy days, talking to check-in counter people, making sure everyone gets through security and to the gate, dispersing food money. Basically all logistical things that involve traveling and getting my squad from country to country.
Sounds like a lot right? Thankfully I have two other awesome people doing this with me that helped me a lot. And it sounds like a lot, and it was. But we got through it and now we are FINALLY in Thailand. God showed up in places I didn’t think He would through these travel days.
And that is what I want to talk about. Not about the craziness of getting here, but what God showed me in the middle of the crazy. Because God works in His own way in times that we don’t expect.
So many times, I found myself stressed beyond belief, feeling overwhelmed because of the unknown, with questions that could not be answered. And at times I was so caught up in the logistical side of everything that I found myself missing what God was trying to show me.
Now that I am here, I have been asking myself, what would it look like for me to see God in the middle of stress? In the middle of the craziness of travel days? Because He’s there. Always in front of me. Always breathing life into me. Always speaking to me through those around me. But am I seeing it?
And as I’m reflecting, I did see God in the middle of the craziness, but at the time, I missed it. God is everywhere, but we get to choose whether or not we want to see Him. Because sometimes the way God communicates with us is so subtle if we blink we might miss it.
A prayer for peace would go up to God in the middle of all my stress, and a smile would be exchanged with someone as they walked by. I didn’t know them, but God did. And He knew I needed a smile. A prayer goes up and is reflected in the tiny moments in the middle of chaos. In the middle of of running through the airport with fifty other people, God’s grace and goodness isn’t reflected from a resounding word that shook me to my core, His love and mercy was subtly found in the moments in which I was filled with doubt. The truth is that a whisper from God is just as powerful as a shout. He would whisper, and I would miss it because I was allowing the noise around me to drown Him out.
Is it possible for us to see God in little moments? And not only see Him in these moments, but also hear what He is trying to tell us. In the smiles of those around us. In the hugs we give to our friends. In laughter. In the conversations we forget about right after they happen. In the small, fleeting moments that disappear if we don’t write them down. Maybe it looks like us focusing on not what is in front of us, but also what is around us. In the middle of all your stress God sees you. But do you see Him? He speaks, but do you hear him? When He whispers, is the noise of your stress and your life drowning out His quiet still voice? You don’t have to listen to it, but wouldn’t it be so much better if you did? Because our God is a living breathing God. He showers us with grace and love always. Our feelings and moods and circumstances change, but hallelujah that our God doesn’t change. He is always there. Always breathing life. Always speaking.
Just something I am walking in and trying to understand. Thanks for reading!
Miss you, mom.
Until next time!
Aaron
