Note: In this blog I will not be making any references to a certain boy band with the same name as my blog title. But I'll bet that a large portion of people who end up reading this blog where brought here out of sheer curiosity of whether I would or not. To that I say haha and please read on even if you are disappointed 🙂
The creativity of God is something that has always blown my mind! He is so incredibly expansive and detailed that to say that His capacity to create is unlimited is just not eloquent enough!
While living in Albania on my first month of the race the variety of personalities, upbringings, ideologies, and even theologies that are represented on my squad have shown themselves full force! AND I LOVE IT!
The culture of The World Race can be explained in one word: Community! To some who read this when you hear of living in community your mind immediately wanders to certain words such as difficult, trying, and to some even cultish. Let me assure you that living in community does not mean you have joined a cult. (Did you know that is what society thought the early church was…yep thats right…a cult because of how they lived in community together!) While community living has its challenges, at the same time it is one of the most beautiful (and biblical) experiences that anyone could have!
Living in community shatters first impressions and surface judgements. It forces you to really step back and put effort forth into peering deep into another's soul to understand why they think and act like they do. It is a catalyst to understanding the heart of God! Gods heart is for His people so when we sing about wanting to know His heart or pray to know His heart…well…you can bet He is going to give you an opportunity to work with people!
In the community that God has blessed me with – R Squad – I have been given the challenge by God to search for His heart. So as I have been digging deep into the testimonies and ideologies of my fellow racers I have found that, although every story and life experience is different, God has ultimately lead us all in One Direction…to His son, Jesus!
I have not known these people long but it has been so cool to watch them flourish in the giftings they were meant to walk in.
If you are considering joining the World Race or are getting ready to begin your Race soon….if you fear the aspect of living in community….DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM DOING WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO! I can almost 100% guarantee you that it will be something you grow to love and what teaches you the most!
It will teach you about the character of God! You can see His faithfulness through people's testimonies. You can see His love through His patience with us. You can see the way God delights in His creation when He rejoices in our triumphs and victories! You can see His unconditional grace and mercy as you see your faults and darkest places come to light.
By living together and watching God interact in us and through us it's almost like watching a beautiful masterpiece being painted before your eyes! The painter, God, uses all the different colors, shapes, and strokes that He needs to make something unique and beautiful. At first it may seem unorganized, chaotic, confusing, and even weird but ultimately it comes together to form One idea, One plan, One picture that He sees in His head…it points in One Direction.
It does not matter our differences, our theologies, or our personalities…He points us all in One Direction…the beauty and power of what His son Jesus Christ did for all of us. That is why we are here and that is the One Direction we desire to point those we come in contact with while on this trip…Jesus Christ!
