The transition into our 5th month on the World Race has been anything but mundane. I’m usually not a very sentimental person, however having a team change was kind of sad. Not sad in a ‘my puppy just died kind of way’ (not that I ever really had a puppy growing up to relate anyway…), but sad in a ‘football season just ended and I’ll miss having it for a while’ kind of way.
Although we had team change they decided to keep all four of us guys together so the team honestly did not change that much. Maybe I’m just being dramatic because I’m reflecting on the last four months and it’s hot here in Africa. The three girls I have been with these last few months – Jessica, Melanie, and Lindsey – will be missed. Spontaneous dance parties at the crib in Serbia, the daily grind together in the cold in Romania, swagging by the bay in Malawi, and getting cheap ice cream everyday in Zimbabwe really has a way of helping a team to bond.
In the words of Paul Revere, “don’t look back to the old World Race team, but look onward to the new team starting in month five.” On this pleasant and inspirational note, I would like to admit I really am excited about the 3 new ladies that are on our team. Although it is just the beginning I know we will become a family before long.
Change is a good thing, especially in our spiritual walk with the Lord.
I have experienced a lot of change in my life, to the point where I feel like a nomad sometimes that doesn’t really fit in to one specific place or friend group. At times it is discouraging, but it is a constant reminder of the story in Matthew 7 about the two foundations. Two houses were built, one built on sand and one built on rock. When the storms came the house on sand was washed away, but the house on rock stood firm.
Change reminds me that my hopes, my joy, and my purpose cannot be placed in anything except Jesus and Jesus alone. Nothing else is consistent, nothing else is perfect, no other foundation will stand firm once the storms of life pass.
I enjoy change not because it is fun, but because it is God’s way of always refining me a little more in areas of my life that are built on sand. By washing the sand out from these parts of my life, I slip and fall and get hurt, but when I do stand again, my foot is on more of the rock than it was previously. I wish I could communicate a warrior battle cry type noise through this blog right now but I can’t and I won’t attempt to, but that is how I feel right now!
John 10:10– “… I came so that you may have life, and have it abundantly”
