Buenos dias big bad blog following! It’s month nine of the World Race, and I’m currently residing at the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Santiago, Chile.
If I’m honest with y’all, the past few months have been really hard for me. I’m tired physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I feel like I’m running pretty near empty these days, and thoughts of home sound pretty nice. It’s hard to find the balance of being present and looking forward to coming home (P.S. that’s August 21!!). Home sounds great one second and absolutely terrifying the next, and I’m not sure how to juggle those feelings.
If you really know me though, whether from home or from the Race, you’d know there’s two things I love in this world: Diet Coke in a Styrofoam cup and Ben Rector. (If this seems way out of left field, hang in there. It’ll make sense in a minute.)
The other day, while standing on the top of a ladder in an orphanage in Santiago, a song came on. (Spoiler alert: It was my playlist aka it was good ol Bennie Boy Rector.)
“If we found out that the world was gonna end on Tuesday morning what would everybody do? It’s funny how the thought of that can make some things real important, and a lot things seem pretty worthless too.”
My World Race will come to an end in 81 days, but what if it was going to end tomorrow?
If we found of that the World Race was gonna end tomorrow morning, what would everybody do? It’s funny how the thought of that can make some things real important and a lot of things pretty worthless too.
I’d be dancing with my team. I’d be laughin’. I’d be cryin’. Livin’ every second and bein’ present. I’d tell everyone I met they’re loved and do what I was scared to do till then. Now that I think about it maybe I should always live like the World Race is gonna end.
I’d eat all my favorite street foods. Share the gospel with their owners, wouldn’t care what people thought, yeah.
I’d speak love to everybody who came close enough to listen, and if someone didn’t know, I’d boldly share the truth.
I’d be dancing with my team. I’d be laughin’. I’d be cryin’. Livin’ every second and bein’present. I’d tell everyone I met they’re loved and do what I was scared to do till then. Now that I think about it maybe I should always live like the World Race is gonna end.
We spend too much of the Race and our lives looking forward, missing now. The tragedy is that we can’t see it until time is running out.
I’d be dancing with my team. I’d be laughin’. I’d be cryin’. Livin” every second and bein’ present. I’d tell everyone I met they’re loved and do what I was scared to do till then. Now that I think about it maybe I should always live like the World Race is gonna end.
Live like the Race is gonna end.
The World Race is gonna end.
This year has held the longest days of my life, and the shortest months. There are already things I regret. Why didn’t I tell that one girl more stories about Jesus in a café in Vietnam? Why couldn’t I get out of bed early enough to watch the sun rise over the river in Cambodia? Why didn’t I spend time with more people at debrief? Why do I spend hours worrying about my future and coming home while I’m letting NOW slip right past me?
My NOW is living in Casa Esperanza in Santiago, Chile at the foothills of the Andes with 9 teenaged girls who need Jesus.
I want the next 81 days to be colored with life, with hope, and with boldness. Thanks for the perspective Ben Rector. See ya in the blink of an eye home, but not too soon I hope.
