So there has been countless blogs on what it is like to live in world race community but I figured it is my turn to share my take on it.
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Coming on the world race I knew that community was part of it. We were all very much warned that our alone time was about to go out the window and the extent of it would be headphones in our ears, with a cranked up iPod. I will be the first to say that is indeed truth. If you find yourself completely alone you are probably in the bathroom. You learn to deal because you know that community living is for the greater good of your spiritual growth.
I pride myself on being easy going, but living with six other people in an apartment with limited space is testing that statement. You thought you knew how you would react in certain situations but find yourself being completely proved wrong.
Month 5 is in full swing and any honeymoon stage teams may have had are definitely over. This may be an 11-mission trip but it is REAL LIFE at this point. The fact is you are past the “I hope they don’t see my flaws” stage. We are not just a team we are a FAMILY and we see the good, bad, and ugly in each other. We drive each other crazy, we know how to push each other’s buttons, we know what not to do to each other, and how our teammates best give and receive love. We’ve learned how to read faces, and body language, when they need their space, and when they just need to hear a comforting word. Sometimes you want to run away. Sometimes you wish they had mute buttons, and sometimes you wish you could just go for a walk without someone by your side. (You always need to be in a group of atleast two) During feedback (the time of the night where we share the awesome things that we saw in each other during the day as well as the constructive things we saw) tears are not uncommon, sometimes you feel misunderstood, other times you wish you didn’t have to face the truth of what your teammates see in you. Sometimes you don’t want to be vulnerable, sometimes you don’t want to lay your heart out on the table but that’s what you signed up for, whether you knew it at the time or not.
This wasn’t supposed to be easy. It was supposed to squeeze the crap out of your life so you can look more like Jesus. The cool part of this whole trip is that you get to do it with 5 or 6 other people by your side every single day. Each of us has different ways of seeing things, different opinions, and ideas. Although, every single one of us with a deep desire to push each other into greatness. They are willing to fight for you, even when you are tired of fighting for yourself. At the end of the day the world race would be nothing without your teammates. I will tell you one thing forsure, you would be pretty bored. Dance parties, playing cards, watching movies, going on adventures, hyper spells in the late night hours, laughing uncontrollably, heart to hearts, going through the bible, praying, seeing people’s lives touched because of Jesus’ unfailing love, all of those things wouldn’t be the same without your team.
As much as I have been stretched and challenged more than any of the other months living in community, I am so blessed. I am continually reminded this is not about me, it is about learning to die to myself and my desires daily. I have found the deepest love for people who not so long ago were strangers. I can say without a doubt I wouldn’t be where I am today on the race if I didn’t have them calling the crap out of me, and speaking truth to the depths of my heart. I am chosen, I am a worshipper, I am confident, I don’t walk in comparison, I walk in the authority of Christ, I listen well, I am a joy bringer. That’s what my team sees in me. That’s what they have helped me to see in myself.
World race community; costly but completely worth it.
RELENTLESS WARRIOR=MY FAMILY
