Coming home from the World Race is emotionally jarring and surprisingly uncomfortable. After spending 11 months in close community, loving orphans, preaching the Gospel, and witnessing extreme poverty; after spending nearly a year of learning how to communicate well with people, how to give feedback, and how to love people even when they’re hard to love; a year of leaning on the Lord for every next step and provision and for the first time beginning to let go of who I’m “supposed to be” and trading it in for who I am now.
After all of this I suddenly find myself…here.
I’m home. And America is so beautiful, and the grass is so green. And it’s as if I’m being wrapped up in a loving embrace of memories and love and rest.
And I find, I don’t feel the way I thought I’d feel about being home in America. I don’t resent this place and I’m not angry at it. I find that I cry at the sight of the dandelions and daydream of the potential that this place has to change the world; of the beauty that engulfs this place.
But beyond my daydreaming, re-entry is hard. I sometimes cry at stores because I find it difficult to make decisions. I sometimes snap at the people I love because I feel unnecessarily defensive and afraid. I sometimes panic when I think of my finances and what I’m going to do next and wonder if I got it all wrong. And sometimes, I ask my self the question:
What now?
This week I’ve been able to spend some time in Gainesville at Adventures in Missions for Project Searchlight and I am beginning to breathe a sigh of relief that I’ve been waiting to release since I stepped off that plane in my hometown almost a month ago.
This morning I had a moment of realization that settled deep in my heart. I realized that no matter what is next after the World Race…no matter where I go, who I go with, or how I get there, I can allow the One who has given me everything to be the echo of my days.
When I interact with my family and friends…He is the echo of my words.
When I figure out what my next steps are…He is the echo of my choices.
When I worship…He is the echo of my praise.
And I think that the more we seek to radiate this echo, to allow the love of Jesus to overflow out of all that we do, the more we can ignite the wildfire of the Holy Spirit.
Being here with my World Race squad mates and with members of other squads has opened up my eyes to something: we are on the shores of a movement. We are on the shores of a generation called to grow up, be the sons and daughters we are made to be, and change the world. And if this sounds a little dramatic, and maybe a little intense…
Good.
So current and future World Racers, I encourage you to finish this thing strong. Love hard. Press in. And throw some kindling on the fire and go to Project Searchlight when you get home. Allow the Father to finish what He started through the process of the World Race. Let’s be a group of men and women who change the world.
Family and friends, will you join me? I believe the World Race ignited the fire in my spirit to see the world changed and to see the love of Christ spread to every nation. But I don’t believe you have to be a World Racer to spread the fire. No. There is a call on our lives, if only we will stand up and answer it.
We’re on the shores, but it’s time to get in the water. It’s time to look beyond what’s normal. It’s time to go.
What will your echo be?
