I've begun to realize the trend of questions as I'm getting older. You know what I mean. Think about it…there are a ton of general questions that people love to ask when you reach a certain age or accomplishment. Let me share a few. For the rising high school senior, it's always: "Where are you going to college?" After the poor kid searches through tons of universities and scholarship opportunities and they finally feel good about their answer to this question, the next one rears its ugly head: "What will you major in?" There's no time to pat yourself on the back and enjoy your accomplishment of getting accepted to a good school because now you have to focus on a major course of study. So you pick a major and before you know it you're a senior. Yep, you guessed it: "Are you ready for graduation?" Then, before you even take your hat off or find a place to lay your diploma: "So, what's next? Do you have a job? Grad school? Wedding plans?" It seems like every time we make it through a certain goal or chapter of our lives we must know what's next, what we can dive into to fill our time.
Now, I'm not saying that it's bad to plan ahead or have an idea of what you'd like to do with your life. I guess the reason I'm writing this out is because I have had a lot of people ask me: "Are you ready for your big trip?" I know that the folks who ask are genuine in their concern and they want to start a conversation, but my frustrations are with myself as I have no idea how to answer! When you're preparing to leave the country for 11 months and you have to take everything from a tent to nail clippers it can be a bit overwhelming at times. I've had lots of opportunities to talk with groups and individuals about my World Race journey and it feels like I've been talking since January but I still can't answer all the questions. "Which city will you be in?" "Will you have to sleep on the floor?" "What about malaria?" "Do you know your teammates?" "What if…" "What about…" "But who…"
With the flight to my first country approaching quickly, these questions are beginning to pile up. I don't know the name of the airline I'm flying on or which city I'll be living in next Monday. I don't know the exchange rate or how to say hello in the native tongue. When I think about all the unknowns it can be a little nerve-wracking. That's when I'm glad I signed up for this trip. I realize now that I don't have to know the answers to all of these detailed questions. I don't even have to know whether I'll find a job or go to school when I come home.
I have found a better question to ask and I'm glad that I know how to answer it. "Who do you follow?" I'm glad you asked, His name is Jesus 🙂 I've found that it's so much easier to simply take Christ at his word. To follow him and let him make the plans. If only I can trust and obey. Last week I ran across these verses and they gave me great encouragement.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1-3
The "great cloud of witnesses" from verse one includes: Noah – who built an ark when it had never rained before; Abraham – who left his home when God told him to even though he didn't know where he was going, he trusted God to give him a son and was willing even to sacrifice his son; Moses – who chose not to be a prince of Egypt but to suffer with his people and eventually lead them out of bondage. The list goes on and on. There have been people throughout the ages (some of their stories are recorded and others have gone completely unnoticed) who have chosen to follow the Lord simply because he said: "Follow Me." Even with Jesus the disciples didn't get answers to all of their questions. They didn't know the "why", "where", "what", or "how". What they did know was the "who". They knew Who was going with them and that was enough.
So, if you ask me "Are you ready for your big trip?" then expect a smile and a confident "YES" because I have the only answer I need and his Name is the Hope of the nations.
P.S. This doesn't mean that I have it all figured out and that I'll never have a moment of confusion or doubt. Actually, I'm still packing and doing last minute things because I leave on July 10th. I'll just try and remember to fix my eyes on Jesus so that I won't grow weary and lose heart!
P.P.S. Thanks for asking all the questions because they've made me think. Still, when I come home and you ask "How was it?" I will have no idea how to answer 🙂
