This year one of the best and hardest pieces of the race has been living life in community. Think about this, I met people for 1 week and committed to spend pretty much every moment with them for 11 months. We didn't have a common background. We didn't know if we had common interests. It has been stretching.
The World Race asks that we never go anywhere on our own. For me, that has meant giving up a lot of freedom and learning to ask for things instead of just heading off to do something on my own.
As an introvert, to say that at times this year I have chafed at the amount of time spent together might be an understatement. In Thailand, I had the joy of living in a 10×10 room with 5 other women. That is a lot of together!
But, the thing I have learned is that as challenging as it has been, it has been so completely and totally worth the hard stuff for the good stuff. I have been changed by the valuable feedback I have received as I have lived in community. In the hard times, I have had people to count on and in the amazing times people to celebrate with.
It is one of the pieces I think we most miss in the United States. Our lives are so busy, we value our independence, and e compartmentalize our lives so much that we miss out on the valuable piece that comes with living open vulnerable lives with the people around us. It is scary. It takes lots of work and I won't deny there are days I wasn't sure it was worth it.
But today, as I prepare to say goodbye to people I have spent 11 months with, I realize how much I have gained. I am more who God intended me to be as I leave the World Race as a result of the sharpening of hte amazing men and women I have shared this time with.
Have I figured out how this will look and work in the U.S.? Nope. But, I do know that I am committed to figuring out how to live in authentic community when I return because I am absolutely sure God has so much more to do in me as I return to the U.S.
