Letting go of expectations. This topic has been on my mind for several weeks now and I have been trying to figure out how to write all my thoughts down in some form or fashion that would be insightful to those of you who are reading this. But the reality is that I couldn't seem to come up with anything stellar and inspiring… probably because I had the expectation of this blog post being one of my best pieces of work so far. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I'll let you be the judge of that.
Regardless, I think its important for me to write about expectations because I have been thinking a lot about them lately — especially since I have just 6 short weeks left here in the U.S.A. before I head out on the World Race! Speaking of important things, I must inform you (for the sake of this blog post), that I do NOT like cheese. Just remember that. Aimee does not like cheese. It's vitally important to this blog post.
So what exactly is an expectation? Wikipedia offers this definition:
In the case of uncertainty, expectation is what is considered the most likely to happen. An expectation, which is a belief that is centered on the future, may or may not be realistic. A less advantageous result gives rise to the emotion of disappointment. If something happens that is not at all expected it is a surprise.
I personally like this hamburger / no-cheese expectation for a lot of reasons, but I will just give you my top three:
- It makes complete sense. By definition, a hamburger is a meat patty with two buns. That's it. No cheese.
- There is no cheese anywhere in the name "hamburger," so why would anyone put cheese on it?!
- If I wanted cheese on my burger, I would ask for a cheeseburger. That's why it's called a cheesebuger. Because it has cheese on it. Gross.
Alright, I think I've made my point. But that is a classic example of what expectations are. I know all too well that this particular expectation leads to failure about 60% of the time when ordering a hamburger, and 100% of the time when I fail to check the burger before pulling away from the drive thru window. I'd like to think that ordering a hamburger means that it will come WITHOUT cheese, but sadly this is not always realistic, and I am often left disappointed and upset. You try pulling that nasty melted cheese off your burger patty. You might be able to pull some of it off, but there are still mounds of melted cheese on there. Yuck. Just thought of it makes me gag!
Okay, it's time to get off my soap box here for a minute and cool down and talk about expectations again. As you just read, expectations can be as simple and silly such as expecting not to get cheese on your hamburger when you order a hamburger and NOT a cheeseburger. Again, if I wanted cheese, I would order a cheeseburger.
Expectations can also be more serious, like looking to others for approval, respect, attention, validation, and love. Yikes! Does that strike a chord with any of you? What about any situations you are currently in? Or what about the time you just spent with your family over the Thanksgiving holidays? Did you expect something to happen and either it did or it didn't? And where you disappointed or surprised?
By now you might be thinking "wow, this post is dragging on. What's your bottom line, Aimee?" Well here it is. As the days dwindle down until I leave for the World Race, I am beginning to learn more and more about why letting go of expectations is not only important, but vital for the next chapter of my life because the chances are they will not be met. Some examples of expectations they told us not to have included getting to shower every day, eating delicious food and having nice accommodations. Those are just the highlights though. Reality checks from World Race alumni have told me that squatty potties with bugs are normal, as well as having diarrhea. Constantly. I am really looking forward to those two things. NOT!
To wrap things up, I don't know what circumstances or situations I will have the pleasure of experiencing in 2013, but I do know that if I leave the U.S.A. with a lot of expectations about the food, people, and/or living situations next year, I could be unintentionally opening the door for disappointment and subsequently having my focus shifted. And what if my focus is shifted in a negative way when I run in to someone? It scares me to think that my expectations and [potential] subsequent disappointments could mean that that person will never know Jesus because I was distracted and unable to give them my all. So, on that note, I will end this post with a challenge and prayer request.
CHALLENGE: what expectations do you have that you need to let go of?
PRAYER RESQUEST: please pray that my team and I go in to the World Race with little to no expectations. God has called us to give up our comfortable lifestyles here in America to go out in to the world and be a shining light to those lost in the darkness. Please pray that our expectations do not dim that light.
