I have resolution.
But I promise it’s not your normal resolution. It’s not to hit the gym more in 2014, or quit drinking caffeine, or go back to school. My resolution is:
I’m going on the World Race. I’m quitting my job, leaving my friends behind, making my first trip to REI, and traveling 11 countries for 11 months. I’m going to spend the next year sharing the love of Jesus and doing something greater than myself.
It’s true that I’m running from office life. It wouldn’t be completely inaccurate to say that I’m dying to get away from the monotony of a 9-5 desk job in a small town I’ve been in my whole life. I find myself nodding and saying yes to questions I can’t even remember the subjects of, far off in some other land thinking about what else I should be doing with my life.
So I’ve booked my proverbial ticket out. I’m signing up for bravery and courage and all the things I’ve been too preoccupied in corporate America to act on. I’m ready for the adventures of living out of a backpack and basking in the glory of foreign travel. I can’t think of anything that stirs up more of a childlike wonder than to not speak the language or read any directions, where I’m 5 years old again and I have only a rudimentary sense of how this world turns or what I know about the people in it. Your whole existence becomes a roulette game of calculated guesses on when to move, when to be still and what to eat without bringing on the full wrath of Montezuma’s revenge. I mean, I enjoy travel. A lot. I still get excited in hotel rooms just to see what type of shampoo they’ve left me. But this is a whole new ball game. This is me, a backpack and a tent, and a group of people stepping out in faith to do our part to change the world and in return change ourselves.
But more importantly I’m ready for the full-fledged wonder of the Almighty God. I’m ready to walk out of my 23 year old self-absorbed American life and into 11 months of service for people in 11 different countries; not caring in the least what my commute to the gym looks like or how I’ll survive upon realization that I’m out of my over-priced Sephora foundation. There’s a quote I’ve centered my focus on for this trip:
Love God
Love People
That’s it. I’m stepping out into the unknown in faith. 11 months. 11 countries. I have no idea how exactly one goes about quitting their job, moving all their things to storage and raising $18,000.00. I have not the slightest clue on what type of malaria medication I should choose or how many packets of instant coffee I can reasonably fit into my backpack amidst all other belongings I’ll need for a year. But God is my Provider, and I’m ready to step away from my earthly securities and into God’s provision for my life. I’m ready to plant my feet firmly in God’s love and take in the full provision of Christ’s plan for my life, whatever that may be.
I’m banking on these travels helping me realize what an immeasurably nice place America is to live in. The world is big, we are small, less is more, life is short. And somewhere in the middle of preparing to live in the middle of my Travel Pinterest board for the next year, I’m hoping to gain a tranquil heart that grasps the fullness of my Savior’s love for me.
There are small moments in life that shape the whole rest of your life afterwards. Little events that ripple out to form huge waves.
I’m ready to ride the wave.
He has given us people, and He has said,
“Live for them, love them, serve them, & lead them.
Lead them to follow me, & lead them to lead others to follow me.
In the process you will multiply the gospel to the ends of the earth”.
