Dear Future Racer, a raw and honest reality of the Race is that it is not always glamorous. What is posted paints a beautiful portrait of what Racers want it to. Instagram stories that show you glorious mountain views and cute kids, because there are lots of those. Blogs that share with you momentous moments that you will probably tell your grandkids one day. And while those days are numerous, countless even, there are days where you’re going to be just dog tired. You’re going to be tired of community, having to share Nutella and being awake at 5 am because that’s when your roomies want to be awake. You’re going to get tired of filling up toilet bowls and taking bucket or baby wipe showers. You’re going to be tired of bugs. You’re going to be tired of sunburn and blisters and having dirt between your nails. You’re going to be just plain tired.
As I find myself laying on the dirty floor of a bus station, waiting on a bus that’s nearly two hours late after traveling for nearly 48 hours- I. Am. Tired.
Dear Racer, days like these make you feel delicate, sensitive to things that typically wouldn’t bother you. Days like these make you want to count down the days until you place your two feet back in old comforts, the known. They may even make you consider why you’re here.
Dear Racer, don’t count the days. Don’t you dare even question why you are here! Don’t let those long days that you find yourself tired let you forget the glory that is unfolding before you every single day. Every! Single! Day!
You are salt.
You are light.
You were entrusted with this journey.
You were entrusted with the Gospel. You carry those seeds. You carry the very thing that will change a prisoner’s life. You carry the very thing that will give hope to a teenage mother. You carry the very thing that the world is waiting on. Don’t miss that because you’re tired.
Take your weary heart, friend, and place it at the feet of Jesus. Don’t just take a sip of the Living Water, live in that River of Life! Find your rest in Him. Make Him your dwelling place.
Carry on, dear warrior.
Fill that water bowl. Put some sunscreen on. Chop that firewood. Pour that concrete. Teach that English class. Do all the things.
You were entrusted.
Don’t waste it.
