How are we portraying our lives? Yes, we hear all the time about how people only publicize the good things about their lives. Instagram only shows the filtered pictures or the good hair days, or the clear skin or the freshly pressed clothes or the times we are being the most social.
What are we actually telling people? Are we ever actually portraying what’s really happening? What story are we actually telling others?
As a World Racer, I often hear the “It’s a glorified vacation” argument. A lot actually. I’ve had people basically say that the Race was nothing more than a year of Instagram posts and blogs to make life look really cool and adventurous. I’ve had different verbal attacks about this journey.
There are a few things that I would like to take some time to clear up. I’d like to “bust a few myths” so to speak.
First, no the race is not a glorified vacation. There are times when it’s hard. A majority of the time. It’s not easy living in community, having minimal options for most everything, trying so hard to stay positive in 100+ degree weather. It’s hard having to die to yourself, having to be called out on your crap, having to deal with all of your pet peeves. It’s hard having spiritual attacks, in every way. It’s hard seeing things around the world that you wish you didn’t have to. It’s difficult not seeing your family except through skype, or not being home for big events or big news. The skype calls with my niece are getting so old; I appreciate them and love them but the things I would do to hug that child and give her the biggest kiss and steal her blanket from her and pretend I have no clue where it went.
The race is hard.
But with that being said, sometimes we don’t “suffer” like most people would assume. Sometimes on the race, there are many adventures. Sometimes there is quite a bit of luxury. Sometimes we have AirCon. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we have wifi. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we have hot water showers and sometimes we have a room with a squaty potty, no sink, and a bucket for a shower. Sometimes we have beds and sometimes we have the floor. Sometimes (most times) we hand wash and air dry our laundry. Most of the time we use a lot of detergent because our clothes smell so bad, but then never are able to get the soap all the way out.
Sometimes, our ministry is manual labor. Sometimes it’s teaching. Sometimes it teaching a computer class. Sometimes it’s campus ministry. Sometimes our ministry is very relaxed. And many times, ministry is a lot of fun. Yes, I said it. Serving people and serving the Lord can actually be FUN! What?!
Serving the Lord doesn’t always have to be long and uneventful and boring. Yes, there are times when it’s mundane but that’s life. Ministry doesn’t always have to be “roughing it” like many people would assume or picture in their own minds.
Why does it seem that everything is put into boxes? The more and more I go about my life, I realize that we have boxes for everything, and surprise, nothing actually fits in them.
One thing that actually really bothers me is when people back home tell me I’m having way too much fun. Or that they imagined the World Race being sleeping in hut in villages, running around bare foot holding hands with orphans. People usually assume that “missions” look just like that early 2000s commercial with the guy walking through a village in Africa saying “by only donating $2, you can change the fate of one of these kids” and then he picks up a malnourished African baby who has a blank stare on his face.
It’s not always like that. In fact, I haven’t experience that once. I’ve seen some pretty icky poverty and I’ve walked through townships and hey, it’s only month 6 and I could experience that in the future. But just because that’s not the exact ministry I’m involved in doesn’t mean I’m not serving. Serving can look like anything.
And while we are on the topic, I’d like to point out that I absolutely hate the term “missionary.”
Why? Because that label gives people an excuse to not share the Gospel.
“Oh, I don’t have a calling to be a missionary so I don’t need to worry about sharing.”
Wrong-o.
If we are Christ followers, disciples, then we are all called to missional living. That means, we are called to share the Good News. We are responsible for winning the souls of mankind for the Kingdom.
Why are people comfortable with not doing that or with just giving that responsibility to “missionaries”?
Anyways, I digress.
There have also been comments about wanting more pictures of ministry rather than adventure days. I understand that. However, when I’m doing ministry I don’t always want to have my phone out experiencing it behind a lens. We may not always be posting these pictures because we want to be all in at the moment, giving the locals our time and energy.
I’ve also had a few observations of racers and it simply rubs me the wrong way. I’ve realized that some racers are trying to portray this “lifestyle” that is pleasing to their supporters.
I guess what I’m trying to say: 1) to racers- portray what is actually happening when you’re relaying things back home. Don’t exaggerate and say you haven’t had wifi or electricity all month when actually both only went out for two nights. Don’t portray a “roughing it” scenario just to tickle people’s ears. Please, don’t. You have nothing to prove to anyone (which by the way was some of the best feedback I’ve ever received but that’s for another blog).
And 2) to those back home: Please shred the boxes that you have put “missions,” Jesus, our journey and The World Race in. Please. Understand that it’s hard to portray every moment on the race. It’s impossible to even do it justice. And Please have grace for us while we are on this journey. We don’t have it all figured out but that is where your love and support comes in. And once again, Supporters, thank you for all the prayers and support.
