If you were to close your eyes and imagine your ‘happy place’, where would it be? The beach? The woods? A spa? The gym? Well, if you’re asking me, my answer would be Disney Land! I LOVE Disney Land! As a child growing up, my family would all get together and go every year. It was the trip I was always looking forward to, and still do. I mean, it’s the happiest place on Earth, right?
I think it’s the Disney Land experience in whole that makes it so great for me. Starting with the road trip, eating all your favorite snacks and having ridiculous car dance parties for hours. Driving till your butt falls asleep, and then finally, you’re there! You start seeing all the rides, and people and you start getting super anxious to just go in already. You walk up to buy your ticket, wait in a little line to get in, then look up to see you’ve made it in the park. So, if you’re anything like me, by this point you’re jumping up and down, and you have your entire day planned out. What ride you’ll go on first, and last, all the delicious snacks you will eat and later regret, and all the shows you will see. Of course, you have to go on your favorite ride first, which for me is, The Tower of Terror. This ride actually is in California Adventure, and usually is pretty packed, so you have to get a fast pass. So you get your fast pass, and head back to Disney to kill some time.
Then, after enjoying some churros, and teacups, you realize it’s time for the moment you have been waiting for. Your favorite ride! So naturally you would start skipping as fast as you can across the park singing “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Zip-A-Dee-A, my oh my, what a wonderful day”, well if you’re in my family at least. You make it to the Tower of Terror, and the butterflies in your stomach start going crazy with excitement. Since you have the fast pass, you get to pass by most of the line, and before you know it, you’re next. You’re standing in front of the elevator that is about to drop you thirteen stories, at around 40 miles an hour. Those excitement butterflies start turning into anxious butterflies. You look behind you to see how many people would notice, if you decided to chicken out and not go on the ride. But, you waited for this moment, you can’t turn back now.
The elevator doors open, and its game on. You take the seat you’re assigned, which for some reason is always the end seat, in the dark corner. Why can’t I ever be in the middle? Anyways, you buckle up and check that baby at least five different times before the ride starts. The room goes pitch black and you feel the elevator start to move up slowly. A screen turns on suddenly with the twilight zone scene, and the creepy music. You are instructed to say goodbye to your loved ones, and the screen goes black again. You feel the elevator slowly creeping back and forth, with the music as you anticipate the drop. You hold onto your handles so tight, as you wait for what feels like forever.
So you may have never been on the tower of terror, or any roller coaster for that matter, but can you relate to this feeling? The mixed feeling of excitement, and anticipation, as you’re waiting for the unknown to happen? When you’re at the edge of your seat, gripping the handles, and holding your breath? Well, if you can, then you have a pretty good idea of what preparing for the World Race feels like. Between fears of having to preach to large crowds, to living with strangers for a year, the excitement and anticipation is real. What if I fail completely? What if I get home sick? What if I get virus sick? What if I don’t meet my fundraising goals? What if I don’t connect with anyone? What if… What if, the list goes on. And at times, the nervousness can get so strong, that it’s all I can see, feel, or think. To the point where I will actually start questioning if this is the right path for me. In these moments, I start to look back and wonder, who would notice, and if it would really be that bad if I chickened out.
But as I look back, I see God, smiling at me. Pushing me forward, telling me to trust him. He shows me a vision of me serving people of all different ethnicities, and getting to depend on him like I never have before. He shows me how I will get to love people, who don’t know they have purpose or value. He shows me his children just discovering his love for the first time, and becoming free in him. He shows me that my life is short, and the time to go is now. He shows me that I am focusing on all the wrong things, and that frankly, this mission isn’t about my performance, and simply about his people. But isn’t it so easy in our lives, to focus on ourselves and our abilities, instead of what really matters? We think we have to be these perfect human beings, when really God created us all to be unique, with all our own quirks, and flaws.
I thought about how terrified I was anticipating the drop on the Tower of Terror, but once it actually dropped, I fell in love with the feeling. It was so exhilarating, unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. I got off the ride, and immediately want to do it again. Well, same goes with our journeys with God. Sometimes God call us to do things that are scary, and don’t make sense, but we have learn to embrace the unknown and creative ways that God has designed our lives to be. I mean we really should be thankful that God is making life an adventure for us, rather than something predictable and comfortable. Our God is a master in his ways, and I am so thankful for that. So instead of gripping onto all my comforts, I am opening my hands to him with delight, as he directs my steps. I see now how God is already shaping me, and my heart, and I haven’t even started the race yet. And I am so excited to share it with you all along the way! If you would like to help, donations can be made above on my blog, and prayer is always appreciated! I love you guys so much.
