The Race isn’t all smiles from orphans and hugs from widows. It isn’t just exploring new cultures and trying new foods. There are tough days. In fact, any alumni racer will tell you to prepare yourself to be more broken in these 11 months than you ever have been or will be in your entire life. The Race is tough.
“The Race is designed for single people. Not married couples.” This is a phrase we have heard often. And to be honest, when you really think about that statement as someone who is married, it can be quite scary. If the race is tough for a single person, what does that mean for a married couple? That is two people who have to go through one another’s “tough” together.
Sure, Billy & I get to do the World Race TOGETHER. I get to have my best friend with me for everything. We get to do ministry together every day. And I always have someone to talk to, someone who understands me, and someone I can cuddle with when I am having a bad day.
But there is this side to married life on the Race that isn’t so glamorous: let’s talk about the reality of marriage on the race.
Our fights will be in front of 45 other people.
Alone time isn’t that common because privacy is rare.
We probably won’t cuddle too much … it just makes things awkward.
Date nights will consist of a less glamorous restaurant on a $10 budget.
When one goes through something, the other is effected. So “tough” stuff is shared.
We have to raise double the amount, buy double the gear, and save double the money.
And let’s be honest, intimacy will be weird. For everyone.
The World Race is going to be tough on our marriage. We are going to have to be extra intentional about taking time for one another. We will have to get creative with date nights. We will have to make healthy communication a top priority. We will have to lean on God for literally everything.
But you see, going on the Race married was our choice. We knew all these things before we applied. We knew this would be a year of sacrifice, of growth, and a year where we truly learn what unconditional love means. We will see each other in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. At our worst and at our best. And we chose this. We want this.
Many of the people in our lives have told us, “If your marriage can survive this, then you guys can make it through anything.” We truly believe that. We trust that God will give us His joy on the mountains, His strength in the valleys, His love for one another, His peace in the chaos, and His comfort in the pain.
We aren’t writing this post to put ourselves on a pedestal because we are married and doing the World Race. And we aren’t trying to make the single person’s Race journey less difficult. We simply want to shed light on the reality of what our Race will look like for us: the married couple.
We ask that you pray for us, for our marriage, on the race.
This all brings us to this moment: a letter to our pre-race selves. This is what we want out of this year, and we ask you pray these things over us.
Spriggs,
You are here. It is this week! You are leaving for the World Race in 3 days!! You have been preparing for and praying over this season for a while now. Well, it is here. Ready or not, here The Spriggs come!
Billy, remember when you started counting down over 300 days ago? That time has flown by and so will your time on the Race. You just got done packing your bag with what is supposed to last you for 11 months. It is a lot less than what you are used to, but don’t look at it as a negative. Look at it as God trying to rid you of all the unnecessary things that are coming between you and Him. Take that lesson with you everywhere you go. Be present where you are and don’t let anything get in the way of God trying to use you. Take advantage of every moment. Jump off cliffs, cuddle tigers, ride elephants, and eat everything that won’t try to kill you. But more importantly, follow God’s voice and let Him work through you in the simplest of situations. It is east to look backwards and see how He wanted things to go, so just have faith and trust that He will guide you through the tough situations.
Ashley, embrace every moment. Sink into every second. And be completely present through it all. Sure, you will miss home, but don’t let it pull you away from what God is doing there. Learn to let go of the things of this world … like your curling iron and makeup … and embrace the freedom of not caring what you look like. (But, it is ok to look nice every once in a while!)Learn to keep your screams to a minimum when you see a bug or snake. Eat all the new, weird foods you can. And take every opportunity to do something brave and adventurous. Jump off cliffs, cuddle tigers, and ride elephants …Oh, and don’t eat everything Billy eats. But most importantly, be Jesus in every step you take, every person you hug, and every thing you do. Be Jesus. Be the love and bring the light every where you go. Don’t let you emotions and your flesh get in the way of God’s glory. He has called you to do this, don’t doubt Him. Lean into His trust completely and don’t hold back. When He nudges you, respond. Don’t react in fear and stand frozen. Move. Go. Do. Be.
To you both, be ready to see your marriage rocked, in a good way, if you allow it. Be open to change, and embrace each other as you do. Do things that will stretch you both and also your marriage. Be teachable, honest, and transparent. Protect your marriage by being intentional about getting quality time every day. Never go to bed angry, and if you are upset stay up as late as you have to until you work it out. Learn from your team, they have amazing things they want to teach you. Allow your team to speak into your marriage, give them those rights. And most of all, fall in love every day. Don’t let the busyness of ministry and travel get in the way of your marriage. Be intentional, get creative, fall more in love as you see the world.
Don’t give up guys. God’s got this. He’s got you.
Love,
Billy & Ashley
