Now, I hope in the future submission makes more sense. I do
not think depriving people of water under any circumstances is a good idea. And
I think in certain situations the correct response would be to jump on a bus
and get out of the crazy situtation. But for us, for this weekend, we were
supposed to submit. We were supposed to put on humility, patience, and love and
to jump in water or mud or whatever… and to do it with a smile.
This World Race trip is all about submission. I’ve chosen to
give up Target and Starbucks and Chic-fil-a and my car and my home and my job,
and I miss all of those things. It’s submission of a life that I have complete
control over and instead embracing a life that is completely out of my control.
It’s embracing a life that is much of the time uncomfortable.
I’m choosing this life of flexibility and discomfort and
submission because I believe there is a reward. Of course, I want to see the
world. And yes, I definitely want to come alongside of people and help
alleviate emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. I want to have some crazy
adventures and meet amazing people. All of that, and finally, importantly,
because I believe the Lord is continuing to redeem and grow me. He is always
calling me into a greater likeness of the person that He created me to be.
These momentary, light afflictions are producing in me an eternal weight of
glory. That is why I am on this trip.
I was reading today in Philippians 2. First, it tells of how
we as believers are supposed to walk in relationship to each other. I was
thinking of my team in verses 1-4, how we are to walk in unity with one another
and we are called to look out, not only for our own interests, but also for the
interests of others.
Verses 5-11 take it a step further and talk about how my
attitude is meant to be the same as Christ’s. Christ, the King of the Universe,
the Master of Everything, is not a stranger to submission. But, instead giving
up Starbucks and Target and a car, He was giving up sitting at the right hand
of the throne of God. He was submitting to the limitations of humanity. He was
submitting to hunger, physical pain, emotional hurt, the need for sleep, the
temptation to sin. Ultimately, He was submitting to death on a cross.
Why?
Because, He too believed there was a reward. Among many
others, part of that reward was a girl named Carrie, who needed to be freed
from sin and released to experience unconditional love.
The team and I after conquering the mudpit.
If you check out this album on facebook, I am amazed at how
much fun it looks like we’re having.
