In Belize, I met a guy named Adam who has decided not to disclose his age until one of his last days at YWAM DTS and hesitates to tell you were he is from (even though he has a strong British accent) because he does not want to be put in a box. I thought that was so profound.
Boxes are uncomfortable, unless you are under the age of 10 and have an appliance box/spaceship. Many people ‘find’ God once He is taken out of the box. I’m not sure why it happens that we take God out of the box, only to place others in it. I know I’m guilty of putting people in boxes and I’m sure you’ve done it before as well.
Before the Race when I was talking to people explaining about what the World Race is and why I was going, I always said something to the effect of ‘I know I can’t change the world and that’s not my goal.’ No ONE ever countered that statement. They may not have verbally said it, but many were probably thinking, ‘no, you can’t change the world – you’re one person.’
Yes, one person I am, but I also have God and He will and has changed the world through changes in me.
We took the Myers-Briggs personality test and then met everyone at Training Camp. I let people put me in an ‘introverted-shy-small town Texas-young lady-who has a twin sister- doesn’t enjoy physical touch- doesn’t talk much- etc‘ box. Why? I have no freaking clue. While yes, all those phrases describe me, they do NOT define me or who I am in Christ.
I am a Christ follower. I am a lover of all people. I enjoy hugs! Sometimes I have a smart mouth. I am a servant. I am a listener. I can be extroverted. I will speak when needed. I am a friend. I am chosen. I am a stranger to some. I am a sinner. I am a world changer. I am a daughter of the One true King. I am precious. I am awesome (right, Richelle 
)! I am a difference maker.
)! I am a difference maker. I recently found a picture online of a herd (?) of camels walking at sunset. The picture was taken directly above the herd and the shadows of the camels on the sand are HUGE. But you would never know they were shadows unless you zoomed in on the picture as the caption mentions. Tiny brownish specks dot the sands of Saudi Arabia and the angle of the sun helps paint the beautiful picture of large camels walking along the sands.
I am a speck. You are a speck. But we all have the potential to leave a HUGE shadow on this world. We live in a world of light. We constantly cast shadows, but what does yours look like for the world to see?
I was in a box, I allowed myself to be put there for goodness sake and my shadow was box-shaped. But I am no longer held back. I have busted out of the brown cardboard mundane uncomfortability. And because I have changed, the world has changed. I am leaving a shadow on this world. One I hope that shows more love and kindness and goodness and peace in this world than just me.
We are in month 11 now, but our Race is not ending- to me it has just begun. The past 11 months have been intense training for what lies ahead. It has shown us what boxes to bust out of, what legs of the Race we need the most support in, when we need nourishment, when we need to be alone, when we need to be cheered on, when we need to be loved; times we need to cheer on others, pick them up from a fall, love them well and serve them; times we can make a difference and change the world.
So my challenge to you, when you meet someone in the future – try not to put them in any box, let them be free to be. Love others always. Always encourage others. And always, always be a world changer knowing when you follow Christ, the shadow behind you speaks far greater than the speck you are in this sometimes crazy world.
