I think a lot about being normal on the Race. Drinking a lightly sweetened latte in a café, taking a hot shower with a shower head I don’t have to hold, seeing white people, having personal space and not feeling obligated to talk to people, eating fresh veggies, throwing my toilet paper in the toilet… just to name a few. These are cultural normalcies that I miss greatly and dwell upon frequently. Coming on the Race I knew I wouldn’t be living a “normal” life. It is a season to forsake the comfortable Christian life you’ve been living for the sake of the gospel and bring the kingdom of God to the least of these.
I’m entering Month 4 of The World Race and I think about my life lived in Asia. The ministries I’ve working with, people I’ve met, children I’ve taught, testimonies I’ve given, worship songs I’ve lead, conversations, games, travel days… and all things in between. Best part is, I don’t regret a thing. I think about how my germaphobe, cleanliness-obsessed self has adjusted to a new normal of dirty feet and dirty dishes. How it’s actually kind of “weird” now to throw my TP in the toilet bowl and how the feel of a hot shower is something truly heavenly. 3 in 1 instant coffee is no longer repulsive and giving constructive feedback in order to bring my brothers and sisters closer to the Father is a blessed opportunity. Praying everyday to be challenged in prayers, discipline, life, love and operating with a new 5 senses in order to share with others the life-giving news of Jesus is just life.
And this is real life. I no longer try to think of “real life” as life back in America and how one day I’ll get back to it. Real life is today. Real life is wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, whoever I’m sharing it with. Dang God, thank you that THIS is my life!
*My current reality is in Kuala Lumpur, Malyaisa, sitting in the hall of my hostel to get a better wifi connection, surrounded by an overwhelming incense odor and fog filling the air. Who the heck is burning incense- stop it!*
I sleep on a raft, live out of a 50 lb backpack, live off $5> a day, have a Chaco tan line, talk about Jesus openly and frequently, have early morning prayer and worship on rooftops, and just live hoping that this is not all in vain but all for the glory of God.
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
This is my new normal. This is real life.
