How DID I Get Here?
Most of my friends think that this trip is another one of my flippant choices. I have a tendency to have a, "Why not?" attitude, so when new opportunities present themselves, it's fairly unlikely that I will decline. However, this story goes a little deeper than that. Maybe even deeper than I can explain, but I will do my best.
I tend to ramble, so if you're not into that, here is the short version:
1. I want to do something MEANINGFUL
2. I want to challenge my faith
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Now for the rest of your more detail oriented people, lets dig a little deeper..
Do Something Meaningful:
Let me take you back with me to February 12, 2000. At this point I am 12 years old, and and go to a private elementary school. To celebrate Valentines Day, the 5&6, 7&8th grade classes went on a ski trip to a nearby ski resort called Christy Mountain. It was my first time skiing and I was sooo pumped! Everyone was commenting on how natural I looked on skis. So of course, after three runs down the beginner hill I was sure I could take on the mountain! I followed a friend of mine down a blue diamond that curved at the bottom. We were chatting about hot chocolate breaks when all of a sudden all goes black. (To this day multi-tasking is not my strong suit).
"AHHHHHH!"
I came-to to the sound of me screaming in the hospital as a doctor relocated my two fingers. I also had a fractured wrist, fractured skull, broken eye socket, and broken nose.
Well how did THAT happen?
Bottom line, I crossed my skis and flew right into a tree. In the months of therapy, and doctors visits that followed, I heard every joke in the book about running into that tree. [Embarrassing right? Who does that?] After the joking though, all my doctors would say, "…but seriously, you are extremely lucky to be alive". After only a few minor surgeries and a little time, I made a complete recovery, aside from just three small things.
1. No sense of smell
2. A semi-"sleepy" right eye
3. The notion that I was kept alive to do something MEANINGFUL.
That story IS NOT for sympathy, but IS to show the "spark" to my "flame" you might say. I never quite knew what "something meaningful" would look or feel like, but its been the driving force for the past eleven years. My thought was that I would fill this void with my "professional life". Yes! That's it! So I fought hard to get experience, finish school, and land that real job. Once I got there, it was a very anticlimactic moment. Don't get me wrong, I have a great job, and I enjoy what I do. But is it meaningful? Does my work matter?
To pay my bills, yes.
To do fun activities, yes.
To buy fun things, yes.
But beyond that…..? After a few months of this I got sick of living for just myself, when I know there are so many in need all around me. I started to explore other options, like volunteering for local nonprofits, and ways to help out in my church. But again, these few feeble attempts barely made a dent in my otherwise selfish lifestyle.
Then one morning, I stumbled upon the World Race website, and it just clicked for me. Here is a chance to do something SO meaningful for a world that is hurting. Live with my life in my backpack, strangers [soon-to-become-family] at my side, completely focused on the spiritual and physical survival of others for an uninterrupted 11-months?
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
(Click on My Route for details on the work we'll be doing in each country!)
This brings me to point two [So soon? I know.]: Challenge My Faith
My disclaimer here is this: To me, God is real, and He is personal. I'm not here to push my beliefs or thoughts on anyone else, but in order to fill you in for real, my walk with God needs to be touched on.
I will admit that I live a pretty 'comfortable' faith. Meaning that I justify actions and habits that may not always align with what I know is right. I trust in God for small things, but always have my "safety net" of material things to fall back on if I get too scared.
As I get to know my teammates through their stories, all I think is, "wow, these people are bold ". That is admirable, and you guys should know that. Have you read their stories? My team is on fire for God 100% of the time, and I cannot say that I always am.
My Inspiration:
Ephesians 4:13-16 says, "…Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ…".
When I know that I am too weak to do things on my own, I trick myself into HAVING to do it. Example: This half marathon, coming up May 1st. Scary! But its something I wanted on my bucket list, and so once I signed up, it was a done deal. I have to get to the gym, have to take this seriously, because there is no way I am going waste the $60 it costs to run yourself silly with a bunch of other people! 🙂
Same story [okay, slightly bigger] with this "World Race". Do I have fears, YEAH. But doesn't our purpose outweigh that? Those children in the Philippines, the woman of Africa, the families in Nepal, they need so much, and I'm so pumped to see how we will be used to meet those needs. Total dependency on God and my new community is gonna be vital, and I'm ready to take that leap of faith – Will you jump with me??
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