Why the WR? Why now? Why August? Why 11 months away from home? Why right after graduation? Why raise $20,000 instead of paying off your loans? Why give up dating rights for 2 years? Why live out of a backpack? Why sleep in a tent? I risk getting diseases? Why go to places that don’t sound fun? Why, Jarren? Why?
WHY THE HECK NOT!!
If you’re not a Christian or Christ follower and have somehow stumbled upon this blog, let me paint you a picture: Packing your bag with a limited amount of clothes, saying goodbye to your bills for a short amount of time, meeting people who just wanna hop on a plane and end up somewhere they’ve never been. Along the way you discover your passions, your purpose, your desires, yourself. You will most likely meet incredible people who have a story you will never forget and will forever be able to tell. You will meet people who just want to spend time with you and know that in the mix of all this crazy junk in the world, they are still worth something to someone. I would like to know where in this, you would find someone who is totally unwilling to do any of these things.
Now for my people on the other side of the spectrum. Jesus’ last comandment before leaving was to GO make disciples. GOOOOOOOOOOO. Leave your current state so that others would know Him. I feel like that is all the explanation I need. I am 22, single, kiddless. If not now, when? I could make up tons of excuses as to why I shouldn’t go; I should pay off my student loans first, I just helped start a church and should stick around, I should wait until my friends are married so I don’t miss their weddings…. In all honesty all of those reasons are DUMB! So until I reach a better reason, I will continue to pursue the calling of which I believe God has placed on my life.
I’m all about loving people. Sometimes. eh, who am I kidding, whenever I feel like it I’ll love someone other than myself. I’ve carried some of the same flaws for the past 22 years and have still managed to pack more. Sometimes, I’m really selfish. Sometimes, I like to pretend not to hear God’s voice because doing so would take me out of my comfort zone. I’m also very dependent on people way more than I am with God. I love my family and friends a little too much. Finding a bae is a constant reminder in my life, I’m sure that has nothing to do with 4 of my friends getting engaged in the past 2 months.
Although I’ve never been on the WR and have only talked to people and read thousands of stories, I imagine that everything that I have mentioned about me is going to get a rude awakening. I’m going to be spending A LOT of time with people calling out my junk and loving me too much to leave me the same. I know that God is going to move in an incredible way and that I can’t to see what is going to happen when I am completely among the unfamilar and the comfortable.
“Take me to the places where no one wants to go. To the people who have yet to hear your name. Who have been deemed unworthy and unwanted. For it is there, your Glory will be praised and your name be made known.”
