So about a month ago I quit my job of a little over a year do to some personal disagreements with the manager. I’m not really going to go into detail as to why I left so lets just leave it at not all people agree that you’re a good person for being a christian missionary.
On to the topic at hand though, during the month I was out of work I really tried to focus on raising some more money for the race by selling shirts and passing out brochures I made about it. I would drive out to the touristy areas along the beach and set up my sign and shirts. At first I was mostly motivated by the money aspect of it. Not necessarily a bad thing but it wasn’t until I started getting feed back from people walking by that my head wasn’t in the right place. fundraising for this trip is not just about reaching your checkpoint. It’s about sharing the word of god and telling as many people you can about this amazing trip you’re being sent out on. Not to brag but to spread awareness that Gods will can, and most certainly will reach the furthest areas of the globe.
This guy Steven I met a few days ago sticks out to me the most when I think about this topic. I was sitting on the tailgate of my truck with my shirts and brochures laid out next to me. greeting people as they passed by heading to the beach to watch the sun set I noticed him from about 20 yards away slow down and just stare at me for a few seconds. He ended up walking over and introducing himself and asking if Clint was my little brother. I replied yes and he told me how my brother had been telling a lot of kids at his school about my trip and that he wanted to know more. We ended up talking for about 20 minutes, I shared with him my testimony and how visiting the Dominican Republic really helped stretch my world view. I asked him if he was religious or if he attended church and it caught him off guard at first, almost as if he was embarrassed to answer no. I joked with him a little and reassured him I wasn’t going to crucify him for being a nonbeliever.
As the conversation went on I explained to Steven what it is that really helps me maintain faith in my religion. I explained to him since I put my faith in Christianity I no longer have this empty feeling of confusion or loss. If I had to explain what that feeling felt like it I would say, “why are you here, what is the point of your existence, and what is stopping you from doing whatever thought pops into your mind at that very moment.”
Now what I’m about to say next may offend some of you viewing this but I want you to keep in mind that, 1. this is my blog, and 2. this is my perception of my religion and you can’t necessarily tell me what I believe is incorrect because it is merely my belief.
I explained to Steven that the main reason I placed my entire self into the hands of God is because at least at the end of my life if our religion isn’t true or isn’t the correct that I lived my life being the best person I could have been to others. That I didn’t waste my time on earth as a nonbeliever to spend an eternity in a Fiery hell wishing I had believed.
I then explained to Steven that my church has a pretty cool youth group and even a college bible study that I attended and he was more than welcome to tag along and see what its all about. I don’t know if you’re actually ever going to show up or read this Steven but if do I hope you really consider checking it out, it could change your life…
