What do Michael Jackson’s Thriller and this prep time leading up to my 11 month mission trip abroad have in common??? Read on to find out…
But first, you have to know the context of the Thriller. If you read my bio, you know that I love 70s and early 80s music, which includes disco and groove soul music. Who doesn’t like Michael Jackson’s music from that era? In fact, volunteers from around the world organize “Thrill the World,” which is an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of MJ’s Thriller. Collectively groups from all over the world are doing this one specific choreographed dance simultaneously. Why is this relevant?
Earlier this week a lot of pieces to this crazy puzzle started coming together. A friend donated their new sleeping bag to my gear pile for the trip. Another friend offered to take my house plants for the year. Another who has rental properties said they would be a contact for my tenant if the furnace dies in the middle of winter. Another said they’d snow blow the driveway and mow the lawn. And the list goes on and on. Individually, these are all minor details, but collectively, each person’s involvement is important and a vital component to me being able to take this trip. You see, I feel like people are coming together and we’re choreographing this awesome adventure that is ahead of us.
And in my head, came the vision of Michael Jackson dancing in front of his fellow dancer partners during the Thriller music video, all doing the same dance moves. And I saw more and more people joining this triangular dance formation and we started dancing in sync. All of you – all my supporters who are praying, helping with finances, providing encouragement during moments of despair, and so many other awesome things to help me, you are in this crazy dance journey with me. I can’t do it without you. And at first I thought maybe I was in the front leading the dance moves, but I realized I was just one of the many dancers in the group. God was in the front of this dance ensemble and one by one, others keep joining the company. We are all stepping out in faith, believing in this journey before us. Together, we are choreographing an awesome thing here. I’m so excited so many of you want to be a part of it. And most importantly, I can’t do it without the most incredible choreographer (God!). Wanna dance?
I am humbled, grateful, honored, and a bit scared. You believe in this journey. You believe in this mission. You believe in me. THANK YOU. This is just the beginning. What a thrill!
