As I sit at camp, the theme surrender is completely applicable to this time in my life. We are talking about the things we need to surrender up to God and how we need to release control to him.
The race is a huge surrender in my life in many ways. I’m going to lay out just a few that are going to be hard for me, but so good for me.
Surrender One: Comfort
I am surrendering comfort by going on the race. I am stepping out and packing my whole life for a year in a backpack and I will be living in a tent for part if not most of the race. If you know me, you know how I like my bed and the coziness my pillows and blankets. I love to curl up with a good book and be warm. I am giving up that comfort and living differently. I am also giving up the comfort of my friends and my family. I am trusting God to give me a team that will become my family in the good and the bad. I am leaving behind a squad that has become my everything in the last year for a new squad that will be able to lift me up and give me feedback that I may not think I need to hear. I am leaving behind the comfort of the pew. I am comfortable being a sunday school teacher and a pew sitting christian on Sundays. I am comfortable being a small group leader at Thrive, the college ministry I attended. I am comfortable being a sit-back Christian, but this race will challenge me to step up and evangelize even when I am scared, to step up and pray for strangers, and even harder, pray for those on my team. I am going to have to break free from the walls I put up toward new people, and surrender that.
Surrender Two: My Job
I went to college for 5 years for an early childhood education degree and I spent the last year teaching Kindergarten. I am surrendering the future of my career to God. In going on the race, I am leaving that behind and hoping and trusting in the Lord to provide me a job when I get back. And who knows, Maybe I will be lead to short term or more long term missions as a result of the race. I am leaving behind a staff and students that have brought me such happiness this last year. I am leaving behind a career, not knowing if I will come back to teaching or not.
Surrender Three: My Future Husband
One of the things that surprised me, but makes so much sense and is hitting me just when I needed it is the rules about dating on the race. If you didn’t know they ask that once you are accepted into the race, you are to not start dating anyone or date anyone once you are on the race, either from your team or the locals. This gives me such freedom. I spend a lot of time thinking about the man that God has for me and I look at the guys in my life and just think of them as that, either a potential husband or not, and many times this ruins friendships, and makes things way harder than they need to be. I worry that I will never find that person. I worry that I am missing out on something that could be by going on the race. This race gives me 18 months to look at and consider the men I meet as who they are. It gives me the chance to make true and honest friendships without the idea of anything more hiding in the background. It gives me the chance to think about my one true love, Jesus as the priority instead of putting the idol of marriage and men before him.
I am surrendering a lot by going on this race, but I am also going to gain so much. I am getting really excited. I have six months to prepare myself the best I can, but I am ready to surrender now.
