I got an email today that said I’d been home from the World Race for a year. The email said it would be the last re-entry message I’d be getting.
Well, I’m happy to report that, after visiting the Mall of America last
week with only wonder and happiness instead of anxiety and guilt, that I
am fully re-entered.
week with only wonder and happiness instead of anxiety and guilt, that I
am fully re-entered.
Interestingly enough, for the past week I’ve been road tripping across Minnesota, South
Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado with Jen, Kendra and Jodi, some of my World Race friends. We didn’t plan the trip to be on our one year anniversary of being home. It just kind of happened that way.
Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado with Jen, Kendra and Jodi, some of my World Race friends. We didn’t plan the trip to be on our one year anniversary of being home. It just kind of happened that way.
And it was the kind of trip that we all needed. We’re all doing different
things now. Kendra is an artist. Jodi is a missionary. Jen is a wellness
coordinator. And I… well, I guess I’m a writer. But we all know each
other in a way that nobody else does. The jokes that nobody else thinks
are funny were funny once again this week.
things now. Kendra is an artist. Jodi is a missionary. Jen is a wellness
coordinator. And I… well, I guess I’m a writer. But we all know each
other in a way that nobody else does. The jokes that nobody else thinks
are funny were funny once again this week.
And so we laughed. And we also cried. We ate PB&J on the side of
the road. And at night, we crawled into bed side by side. Most of the
time on a bed, but also on an air mattress and we even busted out our
World Race sleeping bags and pads and slept on the floor.
the road. And at night, we crawled into bed side by side. Most of the
time on a bed, but also on an air mattress and we even busted out our
World Race sleeping bags and pads and slept on the floor.
On our first night together, over a shared plate of Pad Thai, we
talked about what had been the most difficult since we’d come home. But
we mostly talked about the things God has done since last year-you know,
the good stuff.
talked about what had been the most difficult since we’d come home. But
we mostly talked about the things God has done since last year-you know,
the good stuff.
Later in the week I talked about the really lonely period I had and how my heart is still raw from it, but how I haven’t been
happier as I have been the past few months. I told them about my
friends, the old ones and the new ones and the ones who have disappeared
and the ones that probably need to disappear. We told stories about dates we’d been on. And we talked about
wanting to get married one day and what we believe about God’s
involvement in that whole process.
happier as I have been the past few months. I told them about my
friends, the old ones and the new ones and the ones who have disappeared
and the ones that probably need to disappear. We told stories about dates we’d been on. And we talked about
wanting to get married one day and what we believe about God’s
involvement in that whole process.
We laughed at how weird our lives still are, being able to just randomly pick up and road trip, but how good it felt to be in the
company of other people who are in the process of figuring life out on
this side of the World Race. And how great it’s been to see God working
after the World Race, even after we feared he’d abandon us. (OK, maybe
that was just me.)
company of other people who are in the process of figuring life out on
this side of the World Race. And how great it’s been to see God working
after the World Race, even after we feared he’d abandon us. (OK, maybe
that was just me.)
On one really crazy rough night in Wyoming that involved rain, a lot
of wind, a broken tent and damaged art, we even had grilled cheese at a
stranger’s house. And we talked about how before the World Race we never
would have done that. But that now we know how to accept kindness from
strangers.
of wind, a broken tent and damaged art, we even had grilled cheese at a
stranger’s house. And we talked about how before the World Race we never
would have done that. But that now we know how to accept kindness from
strangers.
The World Race changed us a lot, but so did this last year. We had to
figure out how to incorporate what we learned and saw back then into real life. We
had to figure out how we could do what we love while remembering what
it’s really all about. And most importantly we had to figure out how to
be ourselves and be OK with it.
figure out how to incorporate what we learned and saw back then into real life. We
had to figure out how we could do what we love while remembering what
it’s really all about. And most importantly we had to figure out how to
be ourselves and be OK with it.
We’re still figuring it all out, but it’s good to know that even
after a lot of time passes we still have each other to cry to, laugh
with, and learn from. And it was even better to see that the World Race will always be a part of us, but it wasn’t the end of us.
after a lot of time passes we still have each other to cry to, laugh
with, and learn from. And it was even better to see that the World Race will always be a part of us, but it wasn’t the end of us.
