It’s funny the course a year takes you on. More often than not, you find yourself a year later at a place you would never have imagined to be one year prior. I was reflecting today over where I was just a year ago, halfway through my own race. We had just arrived in Malawi after a 40 hour drive, and would be encouraging and preaching at local communities around the country. Without any exaggeration, those two weeks were the most impactful to my faith of my life. Such huge revelation and empowerment came that I had never experienced before. I can’t help but smile even now thinking about where I was and what the Lord was doing. Reflecting back keeps me reminded of His goodness. Those two weeks were huge for me, and to think that in such a short time He did such a huge work keeps me grounded on His encompassing grace.
In the present of this moment, I am enjoying the simplicity of life. Bike-riding through town, boating on the river, devouring books, sipping wine over late night discussions around a fire. Such moments of peace and calm are few and far between these days. The quiet of life seems to quickly pass through. Even right now, I am sitting on the couch, surrounded by roommates who are chatting away, knowing quickly the daily interactions will cease. The seasons are changing for me. And I can’t help but try to soak up everyone moment of the “now” that I get to be a part of. I don’t want this time to pass me by so quickly that I have all but lost the blissful simplicity of where I am.
And then there’s the sweet anticipation of what’s to come. In exactly five weeks I get to head back out on that accelerated life of adventure, chaos, and erupting glory. You would think after a year of the World Race, I would know exactly what to expect. But this time, the experience will be totally different, with 42 other racers leaning on you for the guidance and direction they need to soak every ounce out of this thing. I don’t know what this next chapter looks like, but I do know He is leading me to it and I would be a fool to walk away from such an opportunity as this, where He has so clearly made His presence known. Despite the life of cold, infrequent showers, lack of sleep, and bug bites too numerous to count, I would never choose out of this because of what could be.
And so in the midst of the simple life around me, I am all but ready to push into the next phase of this thing and see just where it might lead. There is something so exhilarating about the unknown of the path’s end. Something dangerous, and yet something soaked with such intimacy, knowing only by Him, and Him alone, will it all come to pass.
One of the big things that is before me right now is raising the financial support to be able to get out on the field with the squad. I was asked to raise $8000 to cover all expenses while out there for those three months, plus the travel expenses to go meet them for two other debriefs. I’ve raised about half so far, which means in the next five weeks I am praying for a $3500 move by God. I am praying that as you read this, you might feel prompted by the Lord to give a one-time gift.
Put simply, if 10 people gave $200 gifts, 10 people gave $100 gifts, and 10 people gave $50 dollar gifts, I would be totally funded for this next adventure.
As I write this, I can’t stop smiling over what was, what is, and what is to come. Isn’t that the beauty of life? To look back on the ridiculousness of what was, when life’s normal routine was bucket showers, preaching for 8 hours a day, and living in a tented ‘commune’ with teammates. To marvel in the sweet reprieve of life’s present, where late night conversations around a fire are common. And to be filled with such a passionate wonder over what will come to be these next months back out on the race once again.
All in all, I am just thankful to be where I am in this moment. His goodness is shining brightly and I am desiring to simply bask in its sea of glory.
