I don’t claim to be an expert on anything or to know a whole heck of a lot about anything. I have always used the cheesy line, “I don’t know a lot about anything, but I now a little about a lot.” How true that is, it’s rather unclear. Like I said, there isn’t anything I know a lot about, at least not that I know of. I couldn’t write the book “Ten Steps to Success,” or “Car Repairs: The Do It Yourself Guide.” I don’t think I would know how to accurately describe what it is like to go on a mission trip; something some people might think I know about. Although it is one of my dreams and goals in life to be a mentor, I certainly have a lot of learning to do.
Naturally the start of this would make you think I am going to talk about hard work, perseverance and the negative feelings you will have if you simply give up. Though I do wish I had never stopped playing piano because I desire such a skill at this age, this is not about any of those things. This is about how awesome giving up is. I want to tell you how good it feels to give up. Mothers and fathers out there, it is still ok to let your children read this. One of those odd things I like to think I know a little bit about is giving up. Not in the sense of quitting piano lessons, but in the sense of following your dreams. I know following your dreams doesn’t really sound like giving up, but sometimes they do coincide. I like nice things and I really like being comfortable. For a long time nice things and my comfort were what drove my actions. I was probably one of the few 17 year old workaholics because I thought I knew what money could provide.
To most of you who know my blog or anything about the last two years of my life it is to no surprise I have had to give up most of those things or at least redefine them. Though I still like nice things and I am not particularly fond of uncomfortable living, I have been on this journey learning what scripture means when it says “the least of these.” As I have expressed before, I could show you pictures of unsanitary living, eating, sleeping, cooking, traveling, and relieving areas. But just like if I showed you a picture of my favorite car in the world from that time when I founded it randomly in Malaysia, it doesn’t have the same meaning. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I believe its meaning can get lost in so many words. So this picture impossible life I live comes down to basically one concept. Give Up!
How does giving up make any sense? Well, I had to give up my 5 year plan of being the top dog at some shop, fixing peoples impossible car problems. I had to give up my 10 year plan of owning my own business. I gave up much of my life’s agenda where selfishness was driving me towards something I thought was security and happiness. When I left for the World Race I wasn’t really sure what life altering change to expect. I thought maybe I would learn travelling wasn’t for me and I should work super hard to be a supporter of missions, or maybe I would find out something insane about my character which was limiting my relationship with God. I had no idea what was coming, big or small. All I knew was God told me to go now and don’t make any more excuses; give up on trying to understand. This meant quitting my job, selling my truck, pawning anything a pawn shop would take and swallowing my pride enough to ask hard working people to donate to a mission they or I knew nothing about.
332 days later I came home with this pretentious, self gratified attitude which was rather ugly; I didn’t wear it well. I spent 100 days in America trying to understand this calling still sitting on my spirit, almost crushing me with its weight of conviction. Obviously I had missed something in 11 months. So as I started receiving understanding of this calling I also started to understand its conditions. This isn’t simply a sacrifice of time and effort to better someone else’s life. It goes so much deeper than self sacrifice for man.
The calling is for a Kingdom
Obviously, kingdoms aren’t built easily, cheaply or all too quickly. What this meant was this idea I used last time to get out of America was good, but it wasn’t really accepting the calling like requested. I still kept so many parts of my old life, the life I am being called away from, as my safe guard in case I find something I don’t like or get tired of it and want to run back to my “safe place.” God took this path of making it look like something my logical mind could understand. Selling my tools for funds, logical; emptying out my closet to donate, logical. Our God really is clever and continues to prove how much smarter than us He is.
This missionary thing I have become isn’t a calling to go to “the least of these,” it is a calling to be the “the least of these.” How much easier is it to say to someone living without electricity and running water “I understand” when you go home to nothing different? It isn’t a poverty mindset and it isn’t a sacrifice if it is a calling. I have been so incredibly blessed since I was called to this “least of these” life and don’t know if there are even words to express it well. I thought the giving up part was going to suck but when it is just things, you learn how to do life without them and soon forget them altogether. Giving up time seems to be one of the hardest parts of our western culture, but what good is it for us to fill our entire day with ourselves. Time was not so difficult once the Kingdom effect became evident. Giving up my idea of happiness, safety, security, comfort, etc. was probably the best decision I have made thus far in 23-ish years.
So first it is Guatemala. I have been here since September 9 and will return to Georgia on the October 7. A few days later I will be flying to my new home (which doesn’t physically exist yet) in Manila, Philippines. Right now I am committed to being there through February 28 but have the potential to change the date. I have been prayerfully considering extending this stay to the end of June 2014. I will keep you all updated on life as best I can. In the words of the Guatemalans, “Gracias y Buenos Noches!”
As He leads me,
Jason Schmidt
