So you want to go on the World Race? It sounds like adventure and you get to come home with some pretty sweet pictures. Maybe you'll see the Wonders of the World. And then after you've done all that cool stuff, you get to do some nice things along the way. It's the chance of a lifetime.
Here's some from my list of cool.
The Great Wall of China. Ankor Wat. The Batu Caves. The Petronas Towers. Kansai Airport. Surfing in the Indian Ocean. 2nd Beach – the deadliest shark attack beach in the world. Otris Beach and it's clear blue waters and hippie lifestyle. Photoshoots with tigers. Riding elephant through the jungle. Riding bamboo rafts through the rapids. Holding boa constrictors around your neck. Feeding tigers. Dressing up in Kimonos. Seeing the Forbidden City. Visiting Osaka. Eating sushi in Japan. Riding water buffalos. Stealing honey from bees and climbing trees. Eating moon cakes in China at the Moon Festival. Being a part of a Serbian wedding. Dancing the night away on Valentines and learning how to dance like an Albanian. Dressing up as a Khmer bride. Meeting famous people in Thailand, Serbia and South Africa. Sending up lanterns to light up the night sky in Thailand. Exploring ancient tombs that have been recently discovered in Ukraine. Going to foreign plays. Drinking fire coffee. Seeing Santa's grave in Italy. Checking out Dracula's Castle in Brasov. Visiting Croatia on your day off. Touring Auschwitz. Having lunch at ancient Appolonia. Going on a safari, twice.
Yes, I did all of this. And it sounds really cool. I did some nice things along the way too.
However, upon my return home, it is very rare that I tell people about the sight seeing I was able to do or the cool things I got to experience.
Those things just fade in comparison to the human experience I encountered. It is in fact the people that end up being the highlight of my stories and memories. And when I experience humanity in all of its glory and even in it's shame, I get the most amazing encounter of all. More magnificent than the Great Wall of China and more mysterious than Ankor Wat. More death defying than laying down with tigers and more royal than dressing up in 50 thousand dollar kimonos.
And that is the God experience. I find that my most memorable and inspiring moments came when I was challenged by humanity. It was then that I came face to face with God. Because where else do I go when I realize the extent of human trafficking all around me in Chiang Mai? Where else do I struggle with my own identity when I'm surrounded by only men in Gorre? Where else do I enjoy the splendor of quiet moments with humble Khmer friends during their morning prayers and worship? Who do I submit all of my fears too, when our train car gets broken in by an intruder in the middle of the night? What do I do with my weak faith, when I meet an 18 year old orphan who has more wisdom than possibly anyone I've ever met?
I have come to notice that in this great human experience is where I encounter God. He speaks to me. He challenges me. He urges me. And my stories are being written in those moments.
So the next time you need to get away from it all or fill up an itinerary for the next great road trip, or you decide to leave on this journey called the World Race, consider leaving space for a human experience. Trust me. The stories you come home with will have very little to do with the cool things you saw, but the people you touched and the people that touched you.
And then if you are like me, the way you experienced God through it all.
I wrote over 61 blogs about my encounters with humanity and God this past year. I wrote only 1 about the cool things I did along the way. This one.
China – Visiting church. Olympic park. Tiger Kingdom Forbidden City. Great Wall. Kung Fu. Spending the night at KTV. Making dumplings. Playing with a drum circle. Surviving 19 hour train rides.
Thailand: Tenting in the jungle. Hanging with monks. Photos with tigers. Visiting amazing foundations. Riding elephants and bamboo rafts through falls. Lighting lanterns. Climbing Sticky Waterfalls.
Cambodia: Ankor Wat. Learning to cook Asian food. Khmer dress up party. Riding water buffalos for about a quarter. Otris Beach. Thanksgiving with friends we made at the beach. Riding motos. Wearing boas. Birthdays with your favorite people from the whole year. Fishing. Living in mosquito nets. Jumping in Mae Kong river. Meeting Khmer dancers.
Malaysia: Painting murals. Seeing the Petronas Towers. Going caving. Experiencing the holidays away from home. The Batu Caves
Japan: Wearing kimonos. Celebrating the New Year, Japanese style. Visitng Osaka. Eating sushi. (not pictured) experiencing a Japanese Onsen.
Albania: Visiting farms. Having lunch at Appolonia. Going to Bari, Italy on your day off. Seeing St. Nicholas's grave. Learning Albanian dances.
Serbia: Experiencing sleeper cars. Going to a Serbian wedding. Having lunch with tennis stars. Eating the best pizza in the whole world. Loving European cities. Visiting Croatia on your day off.
Romania: Walked up the mountain to see the Brasov sign. Hanging out at Count Dracula's house. Seeing the smallest street in Europe.
Ukraine: Going to a Ukrainian play. Exploring ancient tombs. Touring Auschwitz with the daughter of a survivor. Meeting Olena. Playing lazer tag. Making challah bread for the Sabbath. Watching Ukraine's The Voice with contestant Bria Blessing. Enjoying fire coffee. Making vereneky.
Swaziland: Going on a sunset and sunrise safari. Dancing traditional Swazi dances around the fire. Experiencing wild fires all night long.
South Africa: Swimming at 2nd Beach, the deadliest shark attack beach in the world. Surfing in the Indian Ocean. Fire poi. Touching a shark at 2nd Beach.
