As the days pass by and time draws closer and closer to my Launch date for The World Race, the pressure continues to rise and the stress associated with this pressure constantly grows. Distractions that attempt to keep me from leaving for The Race are numerous and never ceasing, but no deterrent is as prevelant than the temptation of being in a relationship. So in response to this, I am vowing to all who are reading this that I am hereby, fasting, refraining, and abstaining from all things dating, relationships, and thoughts of love while I am gone on my trip and will not even consider the notion of dating until 2016. Now I know what you’re thinking, “But Brandon! What about your wife who you will meet on The Race? You know EVERYONE finds the love of their life when they’re on a mission trip!” My response to that is this, should I really be going on The Race to find the love of my life? That would be a HUGE negative, ghost rider.
If there is one thing that Racers hear more than anything from friends, family, and others, in general, it is in regards to meeting our future spouse while on The Race. Us Racers constantly hear from people “Oh you’re going to just see the inside of someone’s heart so much that you’re bound to fall in love with some girl (or guy if you’re a girl)” and to be brutally honest, it’s REALLY distracting. I mean, I’ve heard it so much I’m entering into the “if-I-had-a-nickel” territory. Now I’m not saying some of us won’t find our future spouses on The Race, many people do! However, I am saying though that I won’t be one of them.
Now this blog’s intended audience is NOT Racers but rather the friends, family, and individuals who do not know the dating policy of The World Race. So let me inform you because I love you all. Long story short, we straight up are not allowed to date while we are on The World Race, and the people who run The World Race could not have been more serious about it. Trust me. They’re PAINFULLY serious. Now again, I know what you’re thinking because some members of my family said the same thing, “They can’t tell you you can’t date! Who do they think they are?!” so I’m going to tell you the same thing that I told them,
“This trip is NOT about finding the love of my life.”
I’m sure that if you asked a hundred Racers why they are going on The Race, I can promise you that each answer is going to be pragmatic, unique, and entirely personal. However, I can personally guarantee that not one person is going on The Race because they are scouting the market for a potential spouse.
On The Race we are going to be experiencing a LOT of new and exciting things, while we grow closer to God in leaps, bounds, and ways we didn’t think could be possible. For me, The Race is about being focused entirely on God, and a relationship would only deter and distract me from God and the opportunities to grow. If there was anyone who was a work in progress it would be me, so I need all the focus I can get.
Now I don’t want this to be a blog that comes off as scolding because it’s not. I love you all to death more than life itself! The love and support you all show us Racers is beyond what any of us deserve. However, I know that I am not the only Racer dealing with this “issue” so I stand up as our spokesman to say this in love:
“You guys are really bummin’ us out man.”
I know you only say what you say out of love for us, and if we really will meet our spouse on The Race then so be it, but when a couple hundred people A DAY come up to you to say the SAME THING it takes the focus off God and onto our love lives, which is the LAST thing we want. Every Racer only wants the spotlight on God for why they are going.
So I challenge thee! Anytime you see a Racer, ask us questions about our trip instead! We LOVE talking about our trips and Some of us might be stressed out and just need to decompress from the pressures, temptations, and spiritual warfare that comes with this trip. But remember, omit our love lives in conversation. We really appreciate it. 🙂
With much love,
Brandon Williams
