It’s been just about 11 months since I have been back to the United States. I have been “on the go” traveling for 296 days. I have loved every moment of my race. And I am tired. The constant going is exhausting. The thought of going home is nerve wracking and but also comforting. My team and I have been beginning to process what home will be like. I have been praying and listening to God during those processing moments. Then he gave me a thought. And the thought was, “what if I’m not supposed to go home yet.” Excuse me, what did you say God??? “The race is only 11 months God and that time is almost up, what do you mean?”…
I thought my obedience was being tested when God told me I was going to do the race. And it was. But now He is calling me into further obedience. For about a month now, I have been praying and seeking direction from Him. And this week I had peace from Him in the decision to go back out on the field in January 2018 to serve as a Alumni Team Leader. This is a decision that scares me. I’m going to lead and show new racers the ropes for the first two months of their race. Are you sure this is for me? He told me yeah, it’s for you. So I’m once again, saying yes.
What does this mean for my friends and family back home? Do I miss you all? Yes. Does part of me wish I could just come home and just stay? Yes. Do I need to once again grieve missing out on moments that will happening during the time I’m gone? Yes. Will you all think I’m crazy? Maybe, yes.
But, if anything, this year has taught me is that obedience to God trumps all of that. If I’m not living my life out of obedience to the Creator of everything, whom I’ve just traveled the globe proclaiming His name, then what am I doing? I’m certainly not living out my faith like I have been trying to all year. I want to continually be more like Jesus. And this is how I feel I am being called to do so.
As I was reflecting more on what it will look like for me to go home. I was thinking about the term “home”. This year, I have been asked a million times “Where are you from?, Where is your home?” by people I’ve met all over the world. My response is usually, United States, America, or Chicago (though I don’t actually live in the city, people will have no clue where Palatine is, so I just go with that) Anyways, that is usually what I say. For me, I have always thought of these places as my home. It’s where I grew up. It’s were my family is. It is was comfortable, it was familiar, it was nice. But in actuality, it’s not what I would say my home is now.
I believe that my true home lies with Jesus. My eternal home with Him, is the final destination. This year has also shown me that I can live here and now with that mind set. Since I have spent the last 11 months without a legit bed, or room to call my own, I have learned that my home is rooted in Jesus. So it doesn’t matter where I’m living on the beautiful planet that He created. As long as I am actively aware of His presence in my life. Continuing to walk like He walked. Then I am home. With Him I am home.
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
2 Corinthians 5:1
-hw
