(Confession: I stole this idea from a past racer but I wanted to create my own list of the top ten things that I think I'm gonna miss. They are in NO particular order.)
Gonna miss this list:
Coffee dates on the couch with roommates
Fried eggs. Quesadillas. Green beans
The sweet kids I babysit for who will grow up SO much
Driving around windows down, heat up
Ethos church family
Road trips with my friends
Dinners and sleepovers in my very own room at April and Josh's
Playing Santa at my grandparents (and all things family holidays)
Target. Forever 21. Thrift stores
Fresh laundry. TV series. Unlimited wifi
Gonna be good list:
Trying any and all new food (yes, that includes fried tarantula)
Close community (51 new sisters and brothers!)
Being broken and fully dependent of Christ
Getting dirty from street kids
Seeing miracles and healings
Being wrecked for the ordinary
Experience God like never before
Long travel days with the T-rexers
Stepping into who I am in Jesus
Living simply
I'm sure there will be so many things I will end up missing more and things that end up being so much better than I could even imagine (because God tends to do that in life) but these are the things that come to my mind when I think about the journey ahead.
And just in case you are wondering…I leave in 13 days. That's right, folks. 13 days. I still like to let my mind race and think I can pack every possible thing and be fully prepared but word on the street is that I can't. That makes me want to pout and roll my eyes but deep down I know it's true.
To quote one of my [fantastic] WR trainers who spoke some serious truth to me yesterday, "Jesus wants to whisk you away to a year of just enjoying him. Don't sweat the small stuff and end up missing all he has for you." Yeah, boom.
So since I've finally accepted the fact that I cannot be ready for every possible sickness, clothing crisis, or long travel day..there is one thing I am ready for. Remember that brokenness I wrote about in a past blog? That's what I do know I am ready for. I think Training Camp was just the beginning of that. It will probably hurt and in the midst of this next year I will probably need you to remind that…
Jesus
Is
Worth
It
Luckily being broken just means running to Jesus with my arms wide open and free of the 50lb. backpack that carries my burdens that I've been trying to live out of for so long.
He's carrying whatever you think you can cram into that backpack of yours too.
He's got you. And he's got me.
It's time to start running into the freedom that Jesus has in store for us.
