It’s hard to believe we are already through 3 months of the World Race. Where did the time go?? It feels like I was just meeting my squad for the first time at LAX, now it feels like I’ve known them forever.
At the end of our 3rd month we had a debrief session scheduled in. We made our way from Da Nang down to Vung Tau, Vietnam to be reunited as a whole squad again. These few days were made available to be intentional rest, reflection and reunion before heading back out to continue on in our 4th month.
During one of our sessions, our squad mentor Daniel spoke about something called “Project Mood Curve.” Depicted on a graph, the line begins at the apex and works it’s way up to a peak, to form section A. At this point the curve begins to slope downward. Eventually it evens out, at a low point, forming section B. At this low point you have the decision to push through the challenge, or give up and start over at section A. If you push through, you eventually experience growth, in section C. Often times, this is the point where people decide to not push through, and seek a new beginning, which cycles you back to section A.
Section A is typically exciting, and thrilling, as it is a new experience, a new adventure. It could be a new job, new relationship, moving to a new house/city. Section B occurs once the freshness fades away, and challenges begin to present themselves. Section C comes only when you have pushed through the challenges of section B.
Here’s a visual. This image is labeled a little differently, with section A as “Hope,” B as “Insight,” and C as “Confidence” but it is the same idea.
As he was talking, I realized that this aligns with my life over nearly a decade. Looking back, I can see that I was called to the Race many years ago, but chose not to listen. Instead I began chasing new beginnings and fun adventures:
- I took a 2 year break from school, taking trade classes for CNA training, then Medical Billing & Coding, only to ultimately end up back at the university to finish my degree.
- I traveled internationally, expecting to get my “wanderlust fix” only to return feeling less than satisfied.
- I accepted a year long nanny position in Istanbul, Turkey, but ended up staying only 3 months.
- I found the job of my dreams, but felt overwhelmed and left unable to figure out why it wasn’t really what I was looking for.
As Daniel was explaining the curve, I immediately could relate. I knew exactly what he was referring to, because I had lived it. I realized I had been caught in a horrible cycle of the thrill of section A followed by the challenge of section B, then circling back to a new and different section A.
My breaking point came a couple years ago, and was multifaceted:
- I realized I had been dealing with health issues for over 5 years, and decided to get serious about resolving them.
- I was working at a job which I was good at, enjoyed the environment, and my coworkers, but was terrified at the thought that this would be what my life looked like forever, or even for another couple of years.
- I found myself slipping further and further from my relationship with Christ, so I sought out an incredible new church, and got connected with a small group Bible study.
It was through a connection in my small group that I was re-introduced to the Race. Through the events listed above, with a myriad of others, I was finally able to say “yes!” to the calling.
While the Race is full of section A highs, it also has it’s own section B challenges. The difference is I am intentional about pushing through these challenges, and surrounded by like-minded people who will continue to support me in these moments.
