I’m sitting in the Seoul, South Korea airport waiting for our 20 hour flight back to Los Angeles and I’m wondering how I got here. It really does seem like just a few days ago when I was boarding the flight from NYC to Dublin beginning this eleven month journey, and yet it also seems like a lifetime ago. Honestly, it’s so surreal right now, I don’t even know what I’m feeling at the moment, but I thought I would write a few words reflecting on the most challenging and important year of my life. I’m sorry if this is poorly organized and very scatterbrained, I haven’t slept in something like 30 hours.
The World Race got me out of my comfort zone in just about every way possible. I ate food I didn’t like, I was in environments where no one for miles spoke English, I was forced to be vulnerable with people I didn’t get to choose, I did ministry with which I was uncomfortable, I slept in scorching heat and freezing cold, I went weeks without a shower, and I currently own three shirts and two pairs of shorts.
Travel days were crazy
For most of the last eleven months, I have been at least on one level or another, uncomfortable. And at some point, I woke up and realized that my comfort was derived from stuff other than Him. My security was in stuff, people, alone time, showers, doing things that I’m good at. No more. God has changed me. Although I still have a LOT of growth left (believe me, a HUGE part of my experience this year has been discovering the depth of my unworthiness and sinfulness), I know now that I can go anywhere and do anything that God calls me to do. I’m not afraid anymore.
This is a park in Istanbul where we slept – I’m on the left
A significant theme of this year has been moving out – moving away from something and toward something else. I have come to believe that this is something that God calls all of us to do at some point in our lives. It’s not always literal as it was for me, but He is always asking for movement. In Genesis 12, God calls Abram to “move out” to the place He would show him. In Joshua 3, God tells the Israelites to get up, cross the Jordan and go to the place God would show them.
That’s what the World Race has been for me. He asked me to get up and move out. Why? Because He knew that at home the tv was too loud, the mall too close, the food too easily obtained, His words too easily ignored. He asks us to move out so that we can learn to depend on Him. Elijah had to move out to a mountain and ignore the fire, earthquake, and rushing wind before he could hear the still small whisper.
I just want to tell you all that God is still whispering, and he’s waiting for you to get to the mountain and hear him. Don’t let yourself believe that you’re too young, too old, too tired or bored, too unmotivated, too scared. He’s calling you to it, and that means He’ll get you through it. Trust me, I’ve seen His faithfulness first hand, but don’t just take my word for it, take His. Take Him up on His promises, a faith that knows from personal experience is stronger than one that’s just heard stories. So that’s what this blog is – a call for you to get off the bench and get in the game – to let God show you His faithfulness first hand, maybe for the first time in your life, or maybe for the thousandth.
Most of you reading this probably aren’t called to go on the World Race, and that’s fine – it’s definitely not for everybody, but I bet that most of you are called to step away from something that you rely on that isn’t Him. When was the last time you asked Him to reveal things that were keeping you from Him? It’s scary… I know. But after all the weird meals, sleepless nights, difficult conversations, emotional and physical exhaustion, I’m sitting here in South Korea telling you three simple words: it’s worth it.
I love you all.
For all of those who have supported me in prayer or financially: I cannot thank you enough. God has used your gift in a mighty way and I’m excited for you to meet the people someday from all over the world that have been impacted by your sacrifice for the Kingdom. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Adam
