I woke up before 5am this morning and boarded a plane. . . how many of my stories will begin like that?
I sat on the plane thinking about the spirit of stress that has been plaguing me the past 4 days. . . the last week. I sulked as, even now on the plane with no ability to accomplish more, I was finding things to stress about.
My bags too heavy. . . Why did I add that last outfit?. . . Why didn’t I leave this out. . . that out?
Enough. I put in my headphones and turned my gaze to the field of clouds outside my window. They looked like billowing snow, crescenting into white mountains. I’ve always wondered at man’s ability to fly among the clouds, to find themselves amongst the thick white air too thin to grasp, yet heavy against your skin. It made me think about the Himalayan communities that hold church as clouds float through the room and turned my memory to a plane ride a long time ago.
I sat wondering, like always, at the clouds outside my window. That day, the young man that sat next to me watched me pensively, and I imagined he found my wonder artful and unique. Today, I thought, “He probably just thought I was weird.”
I think many people have found me weird. Yet, as our Adventures In Missions speaker spoke about the weirdo that changed an entire culture, I felt incredibly NORMAL, fearful of my power to affect those around me. I thought about the way I aim to make my faith “cool,” appealing to my listener, but it’s the bold that change a nation.
“YOU ARE GONNA BE THE WEIRD GUY,” he said. “You’re here because you’re discontent to live any other way. Your NORMAL is changing.”
So, as I looked outside my window, I allowed the adventure to sink in. I released all my fears, all my worries, all my stresses. I remembered to enjoy the journey, to think of life as a romance into God, to appreciate my chance to explore the world over.
I arrived in Atlanta at 1pm, empty stomach and sleepy-eyed, and rejoined the Z Squad for a week of training known as LAUNCH. There’s no turning back now. If it didn’t get done, oh well. If I didn’t pack it, I’ll find a version of it out in the world.
It’s time to become the weird guy.
Bella Boy, I can see you. You can't come. . . I miss him already.
Current financial status: $6,793.51
Thanks go out to everyone at The Adventure Church, The Evans, Jacqui and Russ, Jaclyn and Peter, Jeff, Robyn and Nate, Greyson and Cindy, Nathalie and Shawn!!
