“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
I remember May of 2015. I drove down to Georgia with my mom and my purple backpack that weight 21.2 pounds with my tent in it. I met a few 6 strangers at a restaurant and then headed to the Adventures in Missions headquarters where I met 47 more strangers.
It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. I, the shy, quiet, introverted girl that walked in a circle of 3 friends that never branched out was now thrown alone into a mix of 53 strangers. It was the most terrifying moment of my life but that moment was worth every ounce of courage I had to muster up to get there. That one single choice, to go to World Race Training Camp.
Fast forward 12 months and 1 day. Those strangers aren’t strangers anymore. Those 53 strangers are now family. We’ve lived together, served together, cried together for the last year. We’re known by each other, we’re loved by each other, and suddenly, we’re all flying “home”. We scattered everywhere from New York to LA and most every place in between. Our time together is over.
I had never experienced what it meant to live in community the way I lived in it for that year. I had never been known and loved so well by people who weren’t my family. And I didn’t know if I ever would again.
Coming home was wonderful and difficult all at the same time. I found myself missing desperately many of the things I was letting go of but what shocked me the most was how much I missed Jesus. I yearned, I craved, I wanted Jesus. It was like I had lost a part of him to (which isn’t true).
I missed waking up every morning and seeing Jesus in the people I was around. I missed learning about Jesus from and experiencing Jesus in the people I spent my days with.
My quiet times had never been better, worshiping filled my heart in ways it never had before, exercise, art, and church were pulling me closer to God. I could feel Him around me tangibly even when I was doubting Him or trying to pull away from Him. He was still there. And as He was tangibly ever present in my life, I missed Him more and more deeply each day.
I missed experiencing Jesus in community. I missed seeing Jesus in my people.
I missed seeing Jesus’ sense of humor in Kelsey (who never ceased to amaze me with what she saw in scripture).
I missed seeing the humility and the care of Jesus in Kyle.
I missed seeing the servant-leadership of Jesus in Danny.
I missed seeing Jesus’ passion and compassion in ChaCha.
I missed seeing relational nature of Jesus from Amanada.
I missed seeing Jesus’ strength, His compassion, His perseverance, His endurance, His audacity, His power, His beauty, His intimacy with the Father all of which I got to taste and see pieces of from the people I spent my days with. I missed experience Jesus and growing closer to Him each time I got a glimpse of Him inside of my new family.
Fast forward to January 22nd, 2017. One year, 8 months, and a day since I was that shy girl daring to meet 53 new people all at once. 8 months to the day when I had said, “see you later” to those same strangers turned family.
I was living in a new city (again) with no friends. I walked from my apartment to the other and was half an hour late to a game night filled with a bunch of strangers. I didn’t know a single soul at this event. I walked in (and immediately realized being late to a game night meant all the games had been started without me) so I awkwardly loitered around just like I had at training camp. Until someone came and talked to me just like I did at training camp. That one person introduced me to more people and more people and more people.
That was 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days ago.
And once again, every day I wake up, I know I will get a little taste of who Jesus is in the people that I now call my friends.
I get to experience his honesty from Mark.
I get to see Jesus’ Passion come out in Dani.
I get to see Jesus’ Heart for people in Ashley.
I get to see Jesus’ Joy in Courtney.
I get to see Jesus’ Strength in Doug(las).
I get to see Jesus’ Calming presence in Nathan.
I get to see Jesus’ wisdom I Dave.
I get to see Jesus’ Peace in Tim.
I get to see Jesus’ Open hearted love in Stephanie.
I get to see Jesus’ Humility in Clay.
I get to see Jesus’ Compassion in Jimmy.
I get to see different pieces of Jesus each day in the people I am around each day. I get the privilege of experience, tasting, and seeing more of Jesus’ character in the community I now find myself in. I am so grateful for the people God has placed in my life. I am grateful for each relationship that carries over from the World Race, I am grateful for each new one I form. I am in awe of Jesus and I love getting to see him in my community.
Maybe you’ve felt this way. Maybe you went on the World Race you feel like you’ve lost your community and it’s scattered everywhere now? I want to reassure you that it is out there. You can have this again. God can provide this community.
Try again. Invest again. Be Jesus again.
