Question of the century number 2: “So, what are you doing after the race?”
One of the reasons I came on the race was to find my calling. I was expecting God to part the clouds, dramatically speak from Heaven, and give me specific instructions on the next steps of my life. I’m still waiting for that to happen. In a way, I’m glad God is choosing to work in a less obvious way. I like to have things mapped out. That means less anxiety. It also means less faith. So much of this year has been about listening for God’s still small voice, and following where it leads.
My spiritual passion is discipleship, over evangelism and outreach. That’s the area I plan to focus on in pursuing future careers in ministry.
I feel an urgency to share my experiences with other people, which is why blogging has been such a huge part of the Race. I think this might tie
into fascilitating short-term trips for people and churches that I’m connected to in Alabama…as long as I don’t put AIM out of business. I also plan to continue blogging when I return home. I’m sure plenty of topics and stories will surface as I process more and more.I’ve developed such a passion for photography and would love to pursue avenues to make this more than a small hobby. Is mission photography a career? Because that would be perfect.
I don’t currently feel called to serve overseas on a long-term basis, but I will most definitely continue to be involved in missions. It’s a strong
possibility that at some point I’ll leave the country to serve somewhere for around a year.There are so many things I want to do when I get home. First on the list is sleep. We’ve been living 12 hours ahead of home, so it should be interesting to make that adjustment. The next thing is to hit up all the restaurants that I’ve missed so incredibly this year. I can’t wait to see my family. I can’t wait to visit camp. I can’t wait to wear different clothes and shoes. I’ll be on an adrenaline high for a while, but I know I’ll struggle when the excitement wears off. In our re-entry packet, we’re warned of some of the side effects of “re-enculturation”.
Unexplainable tiredness, lack of desire to do anything
Passionless, feeling unmotivated to do anthing “normal”
Anger or indignation at family, friends, church, etc.
Sadness that others don’t share your passion or just don’t care
Restlessness to do something, plan something, get involved in something
Aimlessness- Out of all my options available, nothing seems to match my “calling”
Confusion- What is my calling? Where do I go from here?
When they first presented this list to us a few months ago and encouraged us to begin processing the year, I didn’t think much about it. That stuff doesn’t really happen. Now that I’m at the end of the road, I see how I could fall into every one of those traps, and it scares me. I want to be able to find the healthy balance in incorporating the lessons learned through this experience with my “normal” life back home. I was discussing the worries of going home with a friend last week. She told me something that really sunk it. “God needs people like us who don’t have things figured out. That means we can do whatever he wants whenever he wants.” It’s such a simple concept, but I never thought about it that way.
There are a few things that I know must happen in order to carry on what I’ve gained from the World Race. I have to find community. I’m no longer in college. Most of my friends have moved on to life’s callings. I need accountability. I need to be surrounded by people that will push me to the next level. Seeking community doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s risky. It’s painful. But it’s worth it.
I currently have no job, no money, no car, and no commitments. Sure, it’s scary. But it’s like I’m starting over, and that’s exciting. I’ll take one day at a time and be extra sensitive to that still small voice. I know I’m not the same person that started the World Race 11 months ago. God has changed me, and I know he’ll continue to mold me into his likeness.
