The World Race has a way of showing you all your ugly. In community, your people choose to call you higher in every moment. They really see you, and know you, and accept you as your true self.
And in that, they are safe people to point out the things that may be blind spots to us.
It grows you and pushes you more than you ever thought possible.
On the race, I’ve realized what I’m good at and what I’m passionate about, but I have also realized there are some things I’m not good at.
I’ve also realized how much I don’t like doing things I’m not good at.
For example:
I’m not good at doing physical labor without understanding why we are doing what we are doing (that’s been hard on the race).
I’m not great with anything musical related.
I’m not good at speaking in other languages.
I’m not good at cooking without a recipe and improvising with limited ingredients.
Not being good at something really bothers someone who is a Type 8 on the Enneagram.
For those who don’t know what the enneagram is, it is a very helpful tool to understand yourself and understand those you love. It uncovers motives and deeply rooted issues. It pushes you to growth because it describes your actions as an unhealthy individual and as a healthy individual. Our squad discovered the enneagram back in Month 4 in Cambodia and we have all been on a constant path of self-discovery ever since.
I am a Type 8. Please understand that I am in no way trying to put myself in a box or anyone else for that matter. But it is an extremely helpful tool.
Before the race, I would react without much thought to my words or actions or reasons behind it. I was a hurt individual who didn’t realize that my biggest fear was to be harmed or controlled by others that resulted in the desire to protect myself. I walked around with the one goal in mind to protect myself.
Type 8’s find it very hard to be vulnerable because the core image that we want to convey to the rest of the world is that we are strong. I never want to seem weak. So when I do feel weak or betrayed, I overcompensate by trying to impact the environment around me in some way.
So because I want to seem strong to everyone and everything, seeming weak or doing things I’m not good at, are avoided at all costs. I don’t want to look stupid in front of people.
But that’s not what God really wants for us. Which is why He led me to post the blog I posted a few weeks ago.
Our virtue is innocence. When we feel safe- that’s when we feel free to be ourselves. Our virtue is our natural state of being in a relaxed state. Type 8’s go back to a child-like innocence when they are at their healthiest.
I was reading in 1 Corinthians 4 where it says that the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
And then in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12 where it says, “If I must boast I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
“To keep me from being conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
His power is made perfect in our weakness. Interesting.
“Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
His power comes in our weaknesses.
“FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.”
James 3 says, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.”
This scripture led me to ask the Lord what I am boasting of and ask Him what He wanted to tell me about this verse.
Boast in your weakness.
So here I am boasting of just a few of the things I feel weak in, because His grace is sufficient.
The World Race has provided me the safe space to try new things and learn from others’ talents, whether it’s learning how to make food with little ingredients, speaking in another language and being given a nickname based on that weakness (thanks for keeping Naparoo humble), being ready to sing on cue with each house visit (and sometimes solo-yikes that was hard), or sanding metal window frames and cutting grass with a machete.
