Today I had an interview with Leon Lagerstam. He is a writer for the Rock Island Dispatch/ Argus. He has written articles about a few other World Racers and was very receptive to helping me get exposure about my journey, for this I am very thankful. In chatting with him I noticed myself referring to my mission as a journey, not a trip, and this is why…
To me there is a subtle but notable difference between calling my adventure a journey and not a trip. In my mind a trip implies that this will be some sort of vacation. A journey on the other hand, evokes thoughts of a traveler. Greg the traveler they will call me! Maybe not they but a least myself… I will be a traveler of the Lord our Savior’s army of equipped servants. I will be equipped with the Gospel of the Almighty Son of Man. I don’t know about you folks but I have a pretty unshakeable pep in my step as I know I will have the opportunity to shine the light of the Lord to those in faraway places. The Lord has set up camps of those willing and ready to serve in the spreading of his gospel amongst the scattered nations and I am eager to serve alongside my brothers and sisters of his majestic Kingdom. As a world traveler I will be exposed, battle tested, attacked spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically but I will immerse myself into the Spirit of the one true Body of Christ.
Today Leon asked me how I felt about being out of the country for 11 months. My response was this… My commitment to the race was with the promise to myself that I will use this year as a time of growth and development into the Man of God that I am called to be. My worldly birthplace happens to be Bloomington Illinois. My eternal home happens to be in the Lord’s kingdom, and I will follow his kingdom to the ends of the Earth. My team and I are preparing to walk with such poise and purpose as to say to the devil that he has no control here. His presence may be apparent but, the Lord is the ultimate shot caller in this life.
By traveling as the hands and feet of God’s kingdom into the distant shores, peaks, and basins of the Earth I will proclaim to anyone who will listen that God is victorious over your past and future troubles. He is victorious over a life of the flesh (something I need to remind myself of from time to time). Most of all he is sovereign over all creation. I am eager to meet and be inspired by fellow travelers in the Lord’s army. I hope our conservations are dominated by the great truth that the souls of the world have already been claimed by Jesus. He was wiped our debt clean not in return for payment but in hopes that we will proclaim him as our savior. Jesus has won us our eternal salvation through his glorious sacrifice. There is no act, not battle, no amount of evangelism I can do that will be as worthy of praise of that of Jesus. The barrier between man and God has been lifted by Christ and as I travel down this beautiful journey, I will strive to keep my eyes on Jesus, hand in hand with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I always knew I was more of a lover than a fighter. It just so happens that my love on this journey will be for the one who overcame my sins and my fight will be within me to open my heart to what his Kingdom has to tell me. Lamentations 3: 25 states, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him”. I will seek his everlasting compassion and pursue my journey with heart and spirit open wide.
