Heya folks, it’s Alex.
Since we don’t leave until 2016, I’m gonna be taking the time now to be talking about this trip we’re going on and why it’s so important, and not just for us. It’s a long trip, it’s a lot of money, it’s a big dedication. Why do it? Why now, and why us?
When I was interviewed over the phone during the application process for this trip, I was asked why I wanted to go. I had a few answers ready as I knew some form of this question was inevitable. I’ll get into some of them a bit in this first post.
At the heart of my answer to ‘why’ was cognitive dissonance. As a christian, I will stand behind such basic biblical doctrines and ideas as the Great Commission (“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”). But the only times I’ve left my own country were for a school trip and a vacation, totaling about nine days altogether. I will recall (And solemnly nod in approval at) such teachings of Jesus as Matthew 25:45 (“He will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant [they seemed], you failed to do for me.”), but must also recall that really, I’ve not done much of anything myself. The answer to why is this: I cannot have peace with myself and the religious beliefs I affirm while I am living comfortably at home.
But the World Race itself isn’t the answer to this. It’s just training and learning in the field as far as I’m concerned. I’m not going to go on this trip so I can do a few good things for some faraway people who may have a lower quality-of-life than I do now. I’m not going to fix the world’s problems. I’m going to fix my problems. To me, the World Race is the beginning of the end. It’s the end of the American Dream, Twitter activism, and excluding worship from being anything but a few song on Sunday mornings.
I need to go on this trip so I can see everything in the world that I’ve been avoiding. There are a lot of real problems in the world (Including in America, to be certain), and I’m done playing the poor card in answer to why I’m doing jack all about it.
You folks can be the ones to press ‘share’ and hit the re-tweet button.
I’m gonna go.
