If there’s one thing I can confidently say I’ve learned over the past couple years it’s that I can’t do life alone. And although that journey has included my stubbornness and frustrated attempts at independence I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t really want to. Because it’s not the way we were designed. We were designed to need relationships: God, each other, family. Honestly though, for most of my life I’ve run from this idea of needing people in my life. Luckily I was forced to embrace it as I stepped into leadership this year.
You might find what I’m about to say completely ridiculous, but until you’ve been in the covenantal relationship of co-leaders of a World Race squad, you really don’t understand that squad leading is a lot like marriage (without the benefits of course 😉 You make every decision together, and you care about the squad in a way nobody else can relate to, and a lot of times that person is the only one you can talk to about situations. Yes, I’d say it was a mini crash course in marriage training.
I’ve had the privilege and honor to run this thing out with Tim Dixon, a friend, brother, a man who is passionate about God and seeing His people come into the greatness they are called to.
As I’ve processed through the last year I’ve learned that being vulnerable and letting people sharpen you can be a painful process, but one I needed to go through.
One of my favorite moments with Tim was at the end of month 2. I was traveling to Phnom Penh to meet Tim and another team before debrief. Tim knew I would be hungry when I arrived, so he offered to get food and bring it to the house when I got in. Not wanting him to serve me (there were some issues I was working through) I said I wasn’t hungry and we could just go out later. When I arrive in Phnom Penh, he had Pad Thai and blue Gatorade (my favorites) set out on a table for me, gave me a hug, and said “I know you well enough by now to call your bluff.” It was at that point that I knew he knew me better than I had even realized.
Throughout this year Tim and I have made honor a high priority, and I’ve learned how to honor and what it means to be honored by leading with him. His friendship has healed and redeemed a lot for me and whomever I marry has Tim to thank for a lot of sharpening in my life.
Tim and I will always have a special bond from leading this squad together. The words he has spoken into my life will not be forgotten and the ways we fought for this squad together will always be a part of my life.
So here’s to you Tim Dixon. I wouldn’t have wanted to lead ouR squad with anyone else!
