On the world race, we continue to live life. We celebrate holidays, birthdays, and plan special events. They may not look the same as those that we celebrate at home, and we may not be with our best friends or loved ones, but somehow we still find a way to make them just as special. On Valentines Day, 2.14.14, we celebrated this day of love. In my experience, it is a day that you either look forward to because you have that special someone to spend it with or if you are like me and very single, you shy away from it hoping no one sees you all day long. I have only ever celebrated this day once in my 26 years with some one, so waking up Friday morning didn’t mean a whole lot to me. I have read World Race blogs and seen pictures/videos of the ways it has been celebrated as racers travel the world, but I didn’t realize how special it really could be. I figured our men would serve us a cooked meal or do something nice for us once that day, but every idea I have ever had of love was torn into pieces that day.
We woke up that morning for breakfast at 7am, tent all being unzipped, groggy, unmake-upped faces dragging our feet to breakfast. Granola and yogurt were on the menu that morning, but instead of serving our selves, we were greeted by the men handing out their wild and ridiculous dictator Valentines (Quit Stalin and be mine or Don’t embargo my love with a picture of Fidel Castro). They asked us to sit at the table and then came around and served us one of two flavors of yogurt and had even gotten up that morning to make homemade granola. It was very sweet, and they even cleared and washed our dishes for us that morning. My heart was already so thankful for what they had done for us that I didn’t need anything else, however they announced that the eating area was closed to all girls between 4pm-6pm that night because they were planning something.
Around 2pm all of us ladies starting getting ready, a process that took about 2 hours that day. We curled our hair; pulled out our best dresses and skirts, put on make-up to make ourselves look that best we could . . . it was Valentines Day after all. Then we went out to the field next to our tents and took pictures with each other and a group shot, while learning our song mash-up that we were making for the guys. They called us in around 6:30pm and had us line up. Tony came out and gave us three rules that we had to follow that night.
- We would not need our plastic plates, cups, or forks.
- We were not allowed to do or get anything for ourselves because they were there to serve us.
- We were to throw out all past experiences and expectations.
As we walked around the side of the dinning tent, we were greeted by Matthew and Cody who handed each of us a beautiful long stemmed red rose, we were then escorted to our tables by the rest of the guys. It was breathtaking looking at all they had prepared. It was like a beautiful banquet table at a high-end restaurant. The tables were set with candles, flowers, salads in real bowl, oil with spices for dipping our bread, and even real silverware. We thought we were dreaming some of us said. Were we still on the World Race? Shock, awe, amazement, and pure joy consumed us as we sat there taking it all in. The men were all dressed in their finest as they walked around offering cold beverages (water, Coke, & Sprite), they also brought out rolls, and offered us different dressings for our salads. It was incredible the thought that had gone into the night, but it was still only the beginning. The rest of the meal consisted of a homemade chicken alfredo with broccoli, peppers, and zucchini. Dessert was rich dark chocolate brownies. They also surprised us with professional photography and let us each have a picture taken. They then went into the “show” they had prepared which consisted of magic, music, poetry, and dancing. Us ladies ended the night with our mash-up of songs, but the men had really out done themselves.
Love to me has looked different. When I think of love, the first things that come to mind are happy couples, loving parents, and laughing friends. I imagine a sweet and silly and spontaneous love. An experience of overwhelming emotion. Something to look forward to and strive toward. This day was different; this love was a different love. It was one of wholehearted surrender. The men of C-squad were laying down their day, their time, and even some of their money to serve the women. That is not an easy kind of love.
That is not the kind of love that appears accidentally.
It was love in a form that was pure, not self-seeking. They served us just as Christ serves us. Their acts of service that whole day were one of the most real representations of Christ’s love for us. They did it, not to get anything back, or to receive praises (though we gave them), but out of a place of love for their sisters in Christ.
Isn’t this what real love is? Isn’t this how Christ has called us to serve one another weather we are brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, or merely neighbors? All expectations and past experiences were shattered that night. If it hadn’t been that I had spent so much time getting ready, I and many other women in that room would have cried. We admitted to never experiencing love at this capacity and many, even myself said that our future husbands had a very high bar set before them. I am so thankful for the men of C-squad. Their generosity to serve us in such a simple and pure way meant more than many of them will ever know and broke/mended bonds of hurts from men in our pasts. So from all of us, thank you for making this the best Valentines Day ever. You are valued, we love you, and cant wait to see how God will continue to grow you into men after His heart. Love your sisters of C-squad.
