Get this: 11 days from now I leave for an 11 month mission trip through 11 different countries.
To add icing to the cake, I have stepped down from my position at the hospital and paddle board shop, back pack is sitting beside me fully packed, funds completely raised due to the loving people around me, my best friend who will be residing in my Tiny House is moved in and funding me through rent, and best of all truck is sold and I am now an official ‘leather’ (by the soles of my feet man)
Yes I do consider these factors icing on the cake of life God’s given me to eat. Why?
Connecting through Disconnecting
Far before my time came to apply for the World Race something in me, a closer connection with God and peace flows within each time an action was made to disconnect from the ‘normals’ that we have in modern day society. Once asked during a bible study in college what I thought a gift of mine was, I stated abandonment. To me sitting here in my house with no AC, now unaware of the 24/7 sweat my body produces, having no running water and hardly barely an ounce of independence at the moment isn’t a sacrifice but a pathway. A pathway into an excitement for having nothing far beyond modern understanding. The smile that ranged from ear to ear on my face while walking home after selling my truck this afternoon was one not of superficial matters. It was a smile from the soul, knowing that a complete flip is about to occur over this next year and the years to come. I gladly invite this surrendering moment and uncharted territories to come.
Behind every Goodbye is a New Hello
Branch Rickey once said, “Never surrender opportunity for security.”
Be it from the Lord or my own restlessness for a new passageway in life I thrive for abandonment and disconnection right now. I welcome every opportunity to say goodbye to anything that isn’t necessary or beneficial to my spiritual and personal growth. Not only to fulfill a dream of following in the footsteps of Christopher McCandless (read into the book/movie Into The Wild for his story) but to take that leap of passionate pursuit to the next level and bring in community and God. Look at my life and all that it’s encompassed; My education can be taken and given anywhere, the passion and success for the tiny house build and living, the constant trips for adventure and escape. It’s not as if it isn’t visible from the naked eye that my soul has been screaming for this moment some time now. Yet never has it had the opportunity to fully abandon everything, completely unplug and disconnect from all of which is around. Furthermore, I am not only abandoning all I have for the coming 11 months but also for the months of my return after the Race. It legitimately excites me to think I won’t have a car and possibly home when I come back. It’s a chance to fully recreate my life and method of decisions while continue living World Race style upon return to America; if that’s where I am lead.
Such a Time as Now
Is the fruit worth the risk? Yes, why? Because I believe what Seth Barnes said in saying, “we can’t be fully transformed in our own backyard. We need a journey and the physical freedom of the road is connected to the spiritual freedom of the soul.” And none, absolutely none of this growth, opportunity, abandonment, freedom and future could be possible without those who have prayed and financially supported me. Being fully funded and no longer concerned with that one could say that it is my job now to do nothing but grow, love and give. I have been gifted this moment, gifted the equipment, gifted the friends, the communities and loved ones around me. I have been mind-blowingly encouraged by their faith in me and over loved by their support and efforts to send me off boundless. Seeing this all come to play over the past month has made me want to do nothing but abandon more. Rid my life of more so not only I, but those apart of this journey with me can see God more. See Him provide, see Him unveiled, see His power, see Him Love in ways unimaginable and spark a new sense of Hope and Faith in our Creator. * * *. Not only that, I want to prove there is another way of life we can walk in! No you don’t always have to have your ducks in a row, no you don’t always have to be self sufficient. You don’t always have be be clean shaven mentally or physically. What ever happened to knocking on neighbors doors to ask them for an egg or power tool? I’ve gotten some random looks from this but then on the other hand I have had awesome fun moments, full of laughter from it! We need people and people need us. The monotony needs to be shattered and color needs to resinate in the earth once more. I’m not saying you all need to go get dreads and wear tie-dye now but see where your footstep has walked over the past years and question it. Question if it’s placement is beneficial to your life or others, safe to yourself or if there is a possibility to add a little spice to it. I believe character is uniquely given by God and can be ground shaking and life changing. Don’t exclude the Hope it could give others by not finding yours and fueling it.
.* * *. Many people love diving into Henry David T. and others of the like for writings of such insight and beauty. Shakespeare and Kahilil Gibran-poets and prophets-are studied in school and philosophy. Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning can’t go without being mentioned. All of these written at a time of either utter abandonment, peace, freedom of responsibility be it willingly or forcibly as Frankl was in the Holocaust. Hope, beauty and Faith- all found and described through ink during times of loneliness, hunger, need and so much more.
This is what I crave for, and through God’s grace and your support this is the season now I have been gifted.
So, goodbye world. Hello Peace
