A few years ago, I lost a good friend who was very near and dear to my heart. We had a relationship that was a lot like David and Jonathan in the Old Testament. Truthfully, that loss ripped my heart more significantly than I ever wanted to admit. For a while I lived in denial, but ultimately gave in to Jesus' offer to heal and restore me in that area. At times, the journey through healing was just as painful as the wound itself. I wanted to give up and give in, but God's grace alone carried me through the years that stood between me and the other side. At some point, I began praying that my healing would be thorough and complete, rather than short and miraculous. I had no idea that the process would continue into the World Race, but it has.
Through some honest feedback from my teammates, I have begun to recognize the changes in me that linger even now. In the context of community, my patterns don't work so well. They worked just fine when I lived alone in my home and had an office job; but not here. This realization is both scary and exciting. The idea of inviting people back into my life in an intimate way is paradoxical also. It's a bigger risk than I expected to take this year….even on the World Race. Nevertheless, here we go. I'm jumping in the deep end and expecting Jesus to teach me how to swim. He catches me every time. Your prayers are invaluable to me, so please keep 'em coming.
** I'm only $7,300 from being fully funded for the Race for the year. If you can make a tax-deductible donation, please let me know. I'm happy to tell you everything you need to know to make it happen!
