Who likes mindless rat racing?
After graduating from college I wanted to work for an organization that served a purpose spiritually, but I wasn't able to find anything that would pay me money to do so. I had the idea that I needed to make money so I could buy things (car, house, etc). I didn't want the American dream, but I still found myself working to live.
I remember the days…making $12 an hour, 40 minutes of traffic to get to work, 9 hours chained to a desk with no windows talking to snobby realtors about their websites, 40 minutes of traffic to get home…ugh. That is where I found myself and it drove me crazy! I got up each morning to get into a car filled with expensive gas to drive to a place so I could make money to pay for the car and gas, then drive home to a place I had to pay to sleep at so I could wake up the next morning and do it a-g-a-i-n-!
Who likes comfort?
I have since streamlined my work life: government job with full benefits, moved close to work, work a shift that allows me to drive to and from with no traffic, no one breathing down my neck, outside 90% of the day, make a decent wage, security, and comfort. Outside of work I have my own apartment, space, food, hobbies, and I can do whatever I want…ahhh, that's more like it right?
I thought so! I thought so for over 6 years and was afraid to give up it up.
Eternity?
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." – C.T Studd
Around 2 years ago I was getting antsy…I wanted to go on an overseas mission trip because I wanted to fulfill the Great Commission. I started searching the internet and saw The World Race. I immediately wanted to do it, but 11 months would mean I would have to quit my secure job and loose my comfy predictable lifestyle. I wasn't ready for that kind of commitment! Naaa, I wanted to keep a hold of what I had. How about a shorter trip…yeah, that sounds more like it. Unfortunately, all the shorter trips tend to be during the summer which is the hardest part of the year for me to get time off of work. Oh man. Well, maybe something will happen, right? Gotta stay positive.
I renewed my passport and told myself 2012 was the year! I was going to go on 2 mission trips! 1st to a third world country and the 2nd to a more established country. 1st trip was to Nepal and I got the time off from work! But, that trip got canceled….waaaaaaa ;-( Haiti? Couldn't get the time off from work. And so it went…still no mission trip.
Late 2012 I find an opportunity to teach English overseas. I meet with the regional director and he loves me! He wants me to sign up on the spot and send me out. Wow, is this the trip I have been waiting for? I fill out the application, submit the paperwork, and only have to wait for my 4 references to send in their forms. 3 references send the forms in right away, but the 4th, my supervisor, tells me he can't release any information without a release form. I don't have a release form and the agency didn't have one either, but they promised me they'd track it down. While I'm waiting for this form a large storm develops in my life – my dad suddenly dies. Now I have a plate full of things to take care of. While doing so, the form comes in, but I'm too busy with family business to deal with the form.
I missed the deadline.
During this time frame I had been selling a lot of my stuff because I was planning on GOING. I sold my bed, dressers, stereo, screen printing gear, clothes/shoes, skulls, alligator head, and lots of stuff. Do I miss any of it? Nope. I don't need much and look forward to being free of the few remaining items I have.
One morning I woke up and looked at facebook and saw a picture posted of some people trekking through a jungle with the caption "what are you doing today?". I thought to myself, "I'm just going to go to work again today, but I rather be doing that." I started to think about the World Race and ended up at their website. After looking at the routes, pictures, and reading some blogs I knew that it's what I wanted to do. I had wanted to do the race ever since I heard about it 2 years ago, but was afraid of leaving my job, comfort, routine, and everything I knew.
I have now become more afraid of not going and just staying. I'm afraid of wasting time being bound by fear of the unknown. I'm afraid of the mundane. I'm afraid that if I don't exercise my faith and trust God I will become a weak Christian. I'm afraid of year after year going by and me wondering what if…
The what if will not come into play anymore because I'm going on the World Race – January 2014 route 2!
