A year ago today, I boarded a plane that would take me to Atlanta and then another to Chicago. Those were the first two flights of somewhere around 20 I would take in the next year. My world race officially began. I remember feeling completely numb. Instead of feeling excited like so many of my squad mates, I was grieving leaving my life in the states. I didn’t want to leave yet. Over the next few days in Chicago though, things shifted and I was able to actually be excited.
Fast forward to today, September 2013, I’m sitting back in North Carolina on the other side of the race. Sometimes, I feel exactly how I felt that day when I boarded my flight to Chicago. I’m numb. I miss the race. I miss the people who became my family for the year. I miss seeing beautiful places. I want to be excited about the season I’m in right now and what God has for me next but I frequently find myself wanting to be back on the race. I’ve been home for a little over a month and sometimes it feels like I’m only here for a visit, a month 12 if you will. But I’m not. Reality is, I start work on Monday. I’m in a season of waiting and transition. Some days it’s really hard and other days it’s exactly what I need.
Don’t hear me wrong; I’m SO excited to be home. I have loved getting to catch up with my family and friends. I have been beyond spoiled and showered with love. Waiting is hard though. Leaving one season, especially one as amazing as the race, is hard too. Trusting God is hard.
Despite all of this, it’s all worth it. The past year was the best/worst year of my life. It was full of extreme highs and extreme lows. It was filled with hours and hour of laughter and lots and lots of tears. It was all worth it though. God taught me countless lessons. He brought incredible people into my life. He broke my heart for his nations and showed me what my part in changing it is. And you know what, this season will be worth it too. The weird reentry moments will soon be things I laugh about. The hard waiting will be a new lesson I’ve learned. It’ll all be worth it. And the best part is….the best is still yet to come!
God is doing something in us in every season. No one season is more important to him than the next. Don’t get stuck in wishing you were back in a different part of your life or wishing this current season away to the next one. Look around you and see how amazing this season is for you. God is using it to teach you so many things. What kind of season are you currently in? What is God teaching you through it?
