UPDATE: We made it to launch in Atlanta, GA successfully on Friday afternoon with my wonderful parents by my side to make sure I made it to the correct terminal. Bitter sweet goodbyes were said Saturday afternoon and we continued to prepare before leaving. Now we are currently, (somewhat) patiently awaiting our departure to Colombia!
I decided to ask my parents to share their thoughts thus far in the process of this World Race experience from their perspective.
Papa Thames
This experience as a parent of a racer has been unique. It’s evoked a realm of emotion that requires its own dictionary. I’ve experienced joy, sadness, happiness, jealousy and all variation and combinations in between.
It’s incredibly difficult for me to imagine 18 years ago I cut the umbilical cord to my own flesh and blood and she is now going to travel the world for nine months. She is about to embark on probably the greatest physical adventure of her life up to this point that will take her towards a greater journey with God toward her inner self. This speaks more to how God has built and shaped her than anything I’ve done as a parent.
Hanna has been kind enough to include her mom and I in her preparation for her route. She let us go with her to REI and other stores to check out sleeping mats, backpacks, tents, etc… She was very careful and did much research on the internet, blogs and first-hand experience with other, seasoned racers. As these shipments would arrive and were opened, at first, I would ask her why she chose that particular item. She was always quick to respond with something specific that she had discovered in her research and why that gadget was exactly what she needed because of the climate, insects, food or whatever she’s anticipating on encountering along her route. Soon, I stopped asking why she was picking out the gear that would be carefully packed: her knowledge and research of what would make up her 40 pound pack surpassed my own.
I’ve also observed there are quite a few other “things” that God has carefully packed for her. God has been intentional about these intangibles He’s packed. While they may not provide purified drinking water or shelter from the Colombian rain forest, they are more valuable for the journey God is calling her to pursue:
Relationship with God: Hanna’s understanding and relationship with God will be her primary source of strength. She’s had enough life experiences at 18 to know she can’t do life on her own strength. She knows that God will provide her strength through her squad, her leaders, mission contacts and especially the very people she will serve. God is the very reason He has put us on this journey and she knows He has prepared the exact resources in advance of ever leaving the house.
The support of a community of believers: Our church community has been extremely supportive in this journey by hosting a benefit concert, providing financial support and especially praying for her through this process. There has also been people in our community that have stopped me in the grocery store or on a walk that shared their support and encouragement. No matter where she goes on her route or off-route, she will be taking with her the love and support of our community.
A positive attitude: When Hanna was in Junior High, she tried out for volleyball and was selected for the top tier A team. I was very excited for her. She was not the tallest in her class, didn’t have the same skill level as some of the other players nor had as much experience. Without questioning Hanna’s placement, her coach voluntarily told me she has something that the other players were lacking and something crucial to every team: a positive attitude that’s contagious. A positive attitude will be an indispensable tool for her and her squad to lift the spiritual and emotional weight that may seem too much to carry at times.
Music: it has been one of my greatest joys to be able to lead worship with her over this past year. I’ve been able to observe how she’s learned the process of taking words and notes on a page or screen, fight through the frustrations of learning the technical details but then connect her heart to God’s heart through worship. God will likely take her through that same process in the field: taking a situation that may seem difficult or mundane, but then finding God’s way through that experience to connect with Him through worship.
There are many more “intangibles” Hanna will be taking with her. These are just a few that I will likely miss the most. These have all come about through the grace of God and His intentional plan for her.
I look forward with great anticipation the new intangibles that she will collect along her route.
Mama Thames
The last couple of months have been non-stop around our house. A trip to Arizona to visit and move our oldest daughter to a new apartment, a trip to Colorado with extended family and friends that concluded with a broken arm and surgery on our youngest daughter, a return home to work for 2 weeks of audit prep, extra hours and onsite walk throughs, a birthday scavenger hunt and slumber party with a house full of 6th graders and a garage sale with Hanna for raising last minute funds for spending money while on the trip. She even sold Gladys, her 1997 Chevy Lumina!
Last Saturday, just a week ago, as I stepped out of the shower after a long day in the front yard listening to Hanna talk about her trip to whomever wanted to hear it and selling old clothes and unneeded nic-nacks…Jesus’ voice came. It’s like that sometimes, and He comes like a flood, just washing over me. I went and grabbed my journal and wrote:
“I just showered and I was thinking about communion tomorrow. I was thinking about your last super with your disciples. How you had been preparing them for your departure, but they still didn’t understand where you were going or what you were going to do. Peter had wanted to come with you and you said he couldn’t. Peter didn’t understand. I often don’t understand too.
You were preparing them to say goodbye. It seems I have had to say goodbye to a lot of people in my life time. Goodbyes are hard. Today that feels especially close to heart as I will be taking Hanna to say goodbye in 6 short days. It occurs to me this is just the amount of time that it took for the people to turn on you Jesus once you entered Jerusalem. They went from welcoming you to calling for your death.
Today, as I walk with you Jesus, I remember that you call me, is, to pick up my cross and follow you. This week – awaiting goodbye , it’s a good day to die. A good day to pick up MY cross and follow you. To surrender to exactly what you, Jesus, have planned and to say, Yes!, IN YOU. It would be easy to get stuck in wanting to go, wanting this to be my journey and not Hanna’s, but this is what you have for her…and what you have for me as I say goodbye.
I think of Peter and his quickness to respond in emotion to you Jesus. I am this way too. I, like Peter want to respond after your correction with wash all of me Jesus. Make my thoughts, dreams, desires your very own. I am yours just as Hanna is yours. And Jesus replies, I have washed you my child. Remember? I remember. I remember communion and what it means to be Yours. I remember what it means for Hanna to be Yours. And a feeling of relief, trust and peace wash over me.”
So today, who or what do you have to say goodbye to? What surrender opportunity does Jesus grace you with?
Let’s remember HIS surrender today.
Let’s remember HIS great love and sacrifice today…and it was one that He had to do alone so that we can be found IN HIM.
My heart finds joy in the human sadness of goodbye as I remember “He orchestrated this: the Anointed One, Jesus, who had never experienced sin, became sin for us so that in Him we might embody the very righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
I pray, Jesus, today may I celebrate in Your fullness and in the fullness of what You have done. In many ways it is to big for me to understand, but I celebrate, trusting You in surrender. Would You guide me, be my light, as I come before You to remember. Your words break through my heart showing your very presence in my life. Would you give me Your courage, Your strength, to feel grief and be present to You this week? I will have to die and tears will come and this will bring life, You, You are life!
Jesus, You are joy! I rejoice in You!
I wonder if re-joicing is like re-membering? It certainly is if it’s about you!
