“You have a dynamo.”
I looked at the man, puzzled.
He elaborated, saying something about a car part and telling me that a dynamo is a mechanism used to convert energy. (Upon looking up a slightly more detailed definition of a dynamo, I found that it is “a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, typically by means of rotating coils of copper wire in a magnetic field.”
Still a bit confused, he proceeded.
“Your dynamo is the Holy Spirit.”
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Okay, let me give you a bit of context to this conversation.
For a lot of my life, I did not understand the difference between extroverts and introverts.
I was under the impression that extroverts like people, and introverts, well, don’t like people. Therefore, I decided that I was an extrovert because I really love people.
And then I learned that being extroverted or introverted is not referring to whether or not I like people but whether or not I become energized and recharged by being around people.
Ohhhhhh…
I love, love, love people, but I do not receive energy from people.
I’m a bubbly, enthusiastic, excited-about-everything person, but in order to be energized to be all that I am and invest deeply in others, I crave time spent alone, perhaps more than the average person.
And then I came on the World Race–a paradise for people who thrive when they are surrounded by people 24/7.
The rest of us have to be a bit more creative about finding ways to reenergize.
I’m still working on ways to create the space that I need so that I don’t feel like my energy tank is on empty when I am around my peers, but here is the thing that has surprised me during these first few weeks–though I feel drained from my lack of personal time and space, any time that am having a conversation with a local, am serving others, or doing anything ministry-related, I come alive and am full of energy.
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In an effort to find some alone time, I ventured to a local cafe on my Sabbath (Australia is safe; I won’t do that in every country). As I sat down, preparing to journal, completely and totally separated from all other World Racers for the first time in over two weeks, I looked over and recognized the man sitting a few tables away from me.
I knew that he was the founder of the drug rehabilitation center at which my squad had visited and worked, but I didn’t expect him to recognize me, as I had not had the chance to talk to him while we were at the center (he talked to many on the World Race squad, but there are a lot of us).
Nevertheless, when he glanced my way, he clearly recognized me.
I walked over to say hello, we introduced ourselves, and he introduced me to the friend he was with. We spoke for a couple of minutes, and then I walked back over to my table.
A few minutes later, he came up to my table and said, “Are you going to be here for a while?” I said, “Yes,” and he said, “Okay, wait here. I’m going to take my friend to the airport, and then I will be back.”
He then proceeded to leave and then returned to the cafe to chat.
(Sidenote: I asked about the man he had just driven to the airport, asking if he was a good friend, and he said, “He went through the rehabilitation program twenty years ago, and we’ve been having lunch every Friday since then.”
That left me beyond intrigued by this man who 1) has been so invested in someone that he has met with him every Friday for twenty years, and 2) came back to a cafe just to talk to me. And I silently prayed, “Lord, let me be this interruptible and present with people.”)
I asked questions, and he told wild stories about his life and how he found the Lord, teaching me so much in such a short amount of time.
At some point, our conversation diverged into my reasoning for wandering away from the group on my Sabbath, and I shared with him about how tired and withdrawn I have been, as a result of very little alone time, but I added that regardless of how tired or withdrawn I have been, as soon as I have found myself in a conversation with a local or any direct form of ministry, I spring to life and feel full of energy.
And that was when he said, “You have a dynamo.”
And when he further explained that my dynamo is the Holy Spirit, a lightbulb went off in my mind.
In John 14:16, Jesus tells his disciples, “…I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…”
The Holy Spirit has been my helper in many ways for many years now, but I’m still discovering new ways that he helps me; he has now become my dynamo…my energy.
I came on the World Race for many reasons. One of those reasons was my desire to develop a greater dependance on the Lord, and that is exactly what is happening–I am learning what it looks like to depend on the Lord for the energy I need in order to do what I have been led here to do.
The Lord will sustain me, as I partner with Him to love, serve, and encourage others around the world.
He’s so, so good.
As always, thanks for following along on this journey.
XO,
Jami
