So when I was first accepted to the race I wrote a blog titled my reason to go. In it I outlined several reasons I thought God was calling me out into the field. Looking back I may have missed the biggest one and the reason at the heart of the calling. So allow me to correct myself and set the story strait.
To set the scene, I have grown up in church. I’ve heard all the stories, and seen incredible things. Also like many other young men, I grew up with a lot of respect for my father. Often times when I would doubt him he would ask “have I ever lead you wrong son?” To which the answer was always, and still is, “no.” So naturally seeing this man who I regarded so highly, regard something himself so highly, I couldn’t not believe it. God had to be real, and this is what spurred me into belief.
The problem was that over the years I continued to hear the stories, go to church, see and hear of incredible things, but i still only believed because of the respect for my father and his belief. This faith was not personal. I did love God and believe that His son died for my sins, but I loved Him like a football fan loves their favorite team. I could see Him and He could see me, we even talked every now and then at an autograph session, but He wanted me to join the team. My faith up until this point had been on training wheels. I had not fully let go and given all of my life to Him.
And here comes the turning point. As many of you who read this blog know, my life plan since I was a young whipper snapper was to be a firefighter/paramedic (or paramedic/firefighter according to my paramedic instructors), so in pursuit of this I laid out the plan for the greatest success in this goal when I was in junior high. My dad reached out to all the contacts he knew in the field to ask the question of what is the best way to get into the profession. The answer was a four year degree followed by a paramedic licensure followed by applications to fire departments and fire training. As of last august I had completed my four year degree in construction science from Texas A&M University and was nearing the end of my paramedic licensure program. I also was in the end of my second year as a project manager for a general contractor. Basically I was right on track and even a little ahead. And that’s when the conviction hit me.
God posed the question. How much longer are you going to stand on the side lines. When will you finally engage with me fully? I know all the parts of your heart, even the parts you haven’t given over to me yet and the only thing you are doing is keeping me at a comfortable distance. And I realized that not once had I answered a call that he had placed on my heart. Not once had I sacrificed any part of my life to further His kingdom when He asked. He had given everything for me, and I had only taken it and sat on it. We are called to become disciples and I had stopped at being a face in the crowed. This was His wake up call to me to follow.
So my next step was to ask back. What do you want? And the reply…. Missions. So as any young Americans do I also consulted Google. And what came up? The World Race. I watched video after video and read blog after blog. No matter how hard I fought it, it was clear. This is it. This is the first missions trip I have made the effort to go on, and this is the closest I have ever been with the Father. The sacrifice is large, but the reward is so much better. Once again He has proven to me that if I want to experience a closer relationship with Him, He is waiting just beyond my comfort zone. And I am so glad that I stepped out of the boat.
