In two weeks my squad will be halfway through our race. It’s bizarre to think that soon we will be two continents down and one to go.
Throughout the past five months I have experienced quite a bit.
I have smelled fresh mountain air, smoggy city streets, trash and urine covered ground, and salty ocean breezes.
I have heard countless children laughing, taxi honks, church choirs praising, various cat calls, and passionate preaching.
I have seen carefully manicured lawns, poverty-stricken communities, fancy malls, naked children, and overcrowded hospitals.
I have tasted plantains in every country, various rice and bean combos, Pizza Hut pizza, pork rind yucca salad, and incredible local fruit juices.
I have felt the immense joy of sharing the Gospel, devastation of certain living conditions, overwhelming peace from the Holy Spirit, and the painful heartbreak of goodbyes.
I could have never imagined I would experience all that I have so far on this journey. There have been hard days, tears shed, and fretful moments, but there have also been relaxing rest days, unforgettable relationships, and moments of pure delight. There have been times of abandoning comforts, and times of embracing God’s blessings. Truly this race experience has come with a crazy-wide range of adventures.
The Lord is always with me. He is ever present in my life. It is I who sometimes fail to acknowledge His presence and power. So saying that God has “shown up” countless times would be a false statement, but you know what I mean. He has flexed his provisional muscles so to speak for various ministry causes along the way, He has quieted my spirit when I feel overwhelmed with fear or expectations, and He has loved me so intentionally in the seemingly small things. God has blessed me with a healthy body, strong mind, and persevering spirit. He has led me through low, dark valleys and high atop sun-shiny mountains. Through it all He has remained steadfast. My life will forever be changed by the incredibly unique people, places, and things I have encountered since August.
I have learned a tremendous amount of valuable lessons in this short time, yet there are some major takeaways that I will likely shout from the rooftops when I come home. Since these things have impacted my life in such a powerful way, of course I must share a few!
1.Embrace the Uncomfortable. If I am living a comfortable life I know now that I am not living a kingdom focused life. If I don’t feel the sacrifice of giving, the unease of talking to strangers, or the uncertainty of following the Spirit’s direction no matter what, I know I am not fully living for Christ. I am confident that God created me to consistently and boldly step outside of my comfort zone, and He has given me courage to do that every day. If I’m stationary, my relationship with the Lord suffers, but if I am stepping out, my intimacy with Christ exponentially increases.
2. Choosing In. I have learned that in most any situation, you have the option to choose in, or choose out. You can say “yes” or say “no” whether the choice is audible or internal. For example, I could sit back and watch the kids play by themselves because I am tired, or I can join them and increase the joy. I can say no to sharing a devotion because I am scared or lazy, or I can say yes knowing God is calling me to be vulnerable – even if it’s risky. Choosing in and saying yes has always been worth it, and I believe it always will be if I am intently listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice.
3. Victim vs. Freedom. Falling victim to my life’s circumstances (especially the bad ones) is very tempting. Yes, throwing a mini pity party in a tough moment makes me feel better temporarily, but that’s just it – it’s temporary. On the race, I have been discipled in this area by someone much wiser than I. She pointed out that the only things I can control in my life are my choices, my attitude and perspective, and who I trust. Instead of reacting with defensiveness when a teammate calls me out on my sin, I can choose to walk in humility and reap lasting reward. If I take ownership of what I can control, I can stop letting my unpredictable environment dictate my attitude and actions. Instead of falling victim, I can walk in freedom.
4. True Peace vs. Perceived Peace. I really really dislike conflict. I used to try to avoid it like the plague. I never wanted to stir the pot unless it had food inside. Living in community on the race has completely changed my perspective on peace. Since maintaining harmony is a huge value of mine, my goal is to create peace in everything. I discovered that in the past I have often settled for fake peace. Such as when my community may appear harmonious, when there is tension and bitterness just below the surface. I now understand that loving someone well may mean boldly sharing the hard truth with them. Calling someone higher means empowering them to imitate Christ. While I used to think that sweeping every issue under the rug was loving and accepting, I now know that a humble honesty is worth rustling feathers if it means finding true God-given peace.
The list could go on, but I wanted to give you a glimpse of what God has taught me on this crazy, beautifully diverse adventure with Him.
Over and out,
Julia
