Erupting explosives cascade upon besieged, rebel-held Aleppo, Syria, daily. Just in the time I’ve been on the Race, incendiary bombs have claimed countless lives, including three hundred in the last week alone. Human rights organizations have estimated that half of the casualties were children. Held hostage in their own homes, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been forced to evacuate. However, most civilians have been prevented from fleeing by those who oppress them.
Their fight for life has never been more prominent.
In Brazil, family members and friends of Chapecoense grapple with the insurmountable and tragic loss of their loved ones.
Back home, first responders in Gatlingburg fight the fires that have claimed lives and countless acres of the Majestic Smoky Mountains, my home for the last four years.
My heart is heavy today.
Nothing really irks me more than people who ignorantly turn a blind eye to tragedies like these. When I receive a complacent “Oh man, that sucks” for issues that move me to tears, it angers me.
This is the world we live in! This is our life! How can you not want to stand up and fight for the people adversely affected by tragedies? How can this not inspire us to live more meaningful lives?
Brokenness is all around us, and it’s darkness like this that spurned me on to illuminate places long devastated, and bring hope to those in despair.
As these tragedies wrench my stomach, they remind me why I’m here, as I hope they do for you as well.
I signed up for the Race to fight injustice and positively change lives around the world. I believe people deserve to know what extravagant love feels like, and I think through Christ, we all carry glimpses of eternity everywhere we go.
“The stranglehold wickedness has on the world is palpable today more than ever. It drives me to act. I cannot live with knowledge of the battles that need to be won, and never get up to fight. I will gladly throw comfort, safety, logic, and luxury to the wind, to forge my place as one who fought to make this world better. I’m writing the story of who I am and who I will become, and the legacy to which I aspire will include risk-taking and sacrificing to impact the lives of many on the path to global justice.”
I wrote this in a blog several months ago and read it often to remind myself of my mission. I chose the Race as a way to make a difference. We are all fighters, and all difference makers. We all have the capacity to abundantly bless others and fight valiantly in the name of love. And the time to fight is now.
The time to write your story is now. The time to risk everything in search of our deepest dreams, and ambitions is now. This is the time to dive deeply into adventure and rich experiences. This is the time to follow your passions, fight for those you love and pursue the things that ignite your soul. And most of all, I believe the time to give back is now. This world is aching for the hope we can bring through Christ. It’s our time to change lives.
My thoughts and prayers are with our world. These are devastating times but I believe love roars louder than evil ever will.
Life is ephemeral, and so precious. We were each placed on this earth at this exact point in history to impact lives in ways specifically unique to how the Lord created us. You can change lives in ways others cannot. That’s a powerful gift.
Seize your destiny. My heart for romance, adventure, and life itself lies within these words. This is our time.
There may be more beautiful times.
This one is ours. And what we do with it changes everything.
Continue fighting the good fight. You are not alone!
Thank you for your support, and as always, adventure on.
Alex
