Our bodies can be fickle things. Here on the Race, it’s normal to experience any number of intestinal issues, weird skin problems and feel muscle pains in places you didn’t even know had muscles. The things we eat and drink, the places where we sleep and what we choose to do with our free time can all affect our bodies in ways that don’t typically happen in the States. I’ve found that I have to spend far more time considering the outcome of different choices (to street food, or not to street food) in order to best take care of my physical health. Often times our meals lack a certain nutritional variety (rice can only be cooked in so many ways) and so I also have to be more intentional about finding nutrition elsewhere.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the human body to make a comparison to the Body of Christ, or the Church (note the big “C” here). Though generally not huge on object lessons, I can’t help but see what a beautiful comparison it is. Paul points out how the Body of Christ is made up of different-yet-equal parts, all necessary and important. Whether I am a hand or a toe or a kidney, my role is vital to the community.
What I’ve come to realize over these past few days as our entire squad has been together is that just as our physical bodies need to be taken care of, so does the Body of Christ. I’ve found that particularly in times where my physical body is more in danger of being disrupted (with Indian curry, for example) I have to be ten times more intentional in caring for it. In the same way, when the Body of Christ is under more pressure, we have to strengthen our resolve to be vigilant, seeking to show even greater concern for how we are functioning as a community.
For Racers, community means vulnerability. It means awareness. It means compromise and selflessness. We are literally doing life together for the next 10 months. In many ways, our time together looks a lot more like the early church. We must share one another’s burdens, pool our resources and pray constantly against attacks. If we lose track of our goal for even a moment, forget to take our vitamins just one morning, the whole Body can suffer. We have to press in to the World Race culture, choosing each day to call one another up to a higher place. When one member of G Squad suffers, we all suffer. When one member rejoices, we all rejoice.
I know without a shadow of doubt that God put this group of individuals together for a specific purpose. He who knows our hearts knew exactly what each one of us needed to best grow closer to Him and serve His Kingdom. He has given us each the unique opportunity to experience what He meant our lives to be like; living together in full dependence on Him as we also fully rely on one another.
My physical body may not always be handling these conditions well, but I know that His Body is present and thriving. And I can’t wait to see where He takes us next!
