Whether you're a former racer, a fellow racer, a future racer, or a friend/family member of a racer, you probably know by now…this World Race thing is difficult. amazing, yes. beautiful, yes. but easy? Heck freaking no. That goes without saying, but…what would you say the hardest part of it is?
I'll tell you.
It's not chilling out with mosquitos and praying you don't contract malaria.
It's not snuggling babies that pee on you every five seconds and children crawling all over you and getting you dirty and sweaty and covered in only God knows what else.
It's not the 40-plus hour travel "days" on planes and buses and convis and on foot, carrying your life (and whatever else you can hold) on your back.
It's not the squatty potties, the bucket showers, or sleeping on the floor.
it's not going without internet until hearing the words "wi-fi" causes uproarious celebration.
It's not eating pb & j until you're convinced that there is no other possible sandwich combination.
It's not wearing the same shirt five days in a row because it's the cleanest thing you have(and I'm only in month three, God, help me)
At this point, I can safely say that the Hardest Thing makes the rest of it look like a day at Disneyland.
Do you know what it is yet?
Here it is:
COMMUNITY.
That's right. living in community is by far the HARDEST, most uncomfortable, dirtiest, scariest thing about the World Race.
Tet me explain, for those of you who may not be familiar with the concept yet.
Community is a word to describe a bunch of people living on top of each other, working through their crap together, and attempting to intentionally love each other in the process.
As far as the World Race goes, your community is a group of people(AKA, a "team") that you get thrown together with at Training Camp(most likely not knowing much about any of them) who are, for all intensive purposes, your family.
(Redeeming D.U.S.T at training camp-FIRST team photo!)
In a way, a team is just like a family. You didn't choose them, and they didn't choose you…but God chose the whole thing with the purpose being that you would learn to love each other.
Yeah, He's funny sometimes.
Anyways, community is actually one of the main reasons I signed up for the World Race. the idea of living with other people (around my age) who love Jesus and have a heart for the nations was like a dream come true. Add the culture of "high preference, high honor, high consideration" and freedom that this trip cultivates, and I was on board.
So, the thing about dreams coming true…It means that there's reality involved. And that means there's mess.
If we're being honest, sometimes, community sucks.
Sometimes, people don't listen to you. Sometimes, they'll interrupt or cut you off or write you off and invalidate your feelings. Sometimes, they'll assume the wrong things about you. Most of the time, they won't understand you-and you won't understand them.
Sometimes, they'll expect more from you than you think you can give. You'll feel underestimated, undervalued, and unappreciated.
Some days, you won't feel like being around them. A few times, You may be tempted to throw someone through a wall.
Fight that temptation, or your team will be over budget on housing for the month.
Sometimes, you'll all be struggling with insecurities, spiritual attack, and hormones…ALL at the same time. There will be jealousy, hurt feelings, and fighting. You're not the only one in the middle of a process. One of my very wise squad trainers put it this way at Training Camp; "Everybody's got sh**, and everybody's sh** stinks."
So, here's what you do. Ready?
1) Give grace.
2) Choose joy.
It's simple. Definitely not easy, but it's not on par with finding a cure for AIDS either. You can do it. I promise. And it's so worth it. Give grace to yourselves and to each other. Choose to see your circumstances through a lens of thankfulness. Perspective is everything.
If we're being honest, community-even though it's one of the hardest, most uncomfortable, dirtiest, scariest things you'll ever commit to-is one of the greatest things you will ever get to be a part of.
my team HAS become my family-the kind I WOULD have chosen if I had known then what I know now. they are my biggest cheerleaders, prayer warriors, accountability partners, and dear friends. most of the time, we don't understand each other… but we LOVE each other, regardless. Be intentional about loving your team. That'll go a long way, too.
(Redeeming D.U.S.T, together again at launch)
To close, I want to leave you with a word from my very wise, very dear friend Karen. before I even left, she wrote this message of encouragement for me to read. I only recently started to realize how important these words are.
"At home or in a foreign land your squad is a part of your journey, and you are a part of theirs. Your lives have been woven together in a way that words don't adequately express. And so you have become this band of brothers (and sisters) through Christ. Take and give freely as often as the Lord compels. It is what the body should look like, imperfections and all."
(redeeming D.U.S.T, 3 months in and still going strong)
blessings,
Anna
