Resolution to “What Matters Most”
The general consensus is that the children are the most important factors here. God was gracious enough to save her out of a life of blind following of a Satanic religion. The hope here is that her influence may impact the children. If she leaves, the children stay and thus have no Christian influence – the life isn’t easy but it ultimately serves a greater good.
When God Closes the Door
There is a harsh reality that we all live under that suggests a) that God is in control and b) that life goes through seasons. Some seasons we are doing exactly what makes us most fulfilled and satisfied, at other times, we seem to be living in the veritable “valley of the shadow of death.” Seasons are hard because they begin to rob us of control – a place God tends to enjoy keeping us (in dependence upon Him). Seasons can come naturally at times but at others, they can seem to feel like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.
We have seen several racers have to leave the World Race because of sickness or death in the family and through the tragedy, plans have had to change. These aren’t hard decisions to make, but they feel as though something has gone “wrong” with the visions God has given them.
In other cases, it hasn’t been so clear cut – in fact, it’s been divisive.
Bridgette was one such case. As a personality trait, Bridgette was a strong individual. She spoke her mind, believed passionately in many good things (and some trivial things), presented herself with confidence and walked with an air of knowing what was going on. She came on the trip having an incredible amount of confidence in her knowledge of cross-cultural missions, of her maturity in her relationship with God and in general with her people skills.
Her confidence brought its own baggage and we watched as God began to facilitate a brokenness experience in her life that she fought constantly. She was the ultimate advocate for prayer on her team. She recalled Scripture often and was growing in her understanding of the Holy Spirit. Her past was filled with hurt and she daily confessed the hardships of having to confront some of the skeletons in her closet.
The World Race seemed to match her extreme personality well. She believed the harder the experience the more significant it was. She loved and welcomed the challenges but was always honest about the toll it took. The team had to carry her through many situations to listen to her vent, cry, process and rebuild. In some cases, brokenness was an easy admission and she reveled in it. In other cases, it was a constant battle many around her had to endure (outbursts, cutting sarcasm, defensiveness, etc.).
Mid-way through the trip, her team was exhausted in every sense of the word. They loved her dearly but were just drained to the breaking point with her constant needs. They had committed to the experience and were ready to take it to the end, but began to plead for help from leadership.
As leadership began to intervene and counsel Bridgette, even more baggage began to come out of the woodwork and it was apparent that Bridgette needed individual attention. When this was suggested (realizing that it would mean her early exit from the race) she adamantly refused confessing that God had called her to the trip and that the growth she was experiencing was unprecedented. She pleaded to be able to complete the journey and continue the life-change she was experiencing.
What does leadership do? The truth is, she WOULD keep growing if she stayed on the race – the journey is a good tool. What’s the decision maker here?
