I said that
I would write here more. (or maybe
AGAIN.) Not sure why. Possibly to stay connected to the bit of me that I love so much. I do know I like the idea of writing. To document thoughts. And seasons. I’ve been considering writing a “Post Race” blog for awhile now – we’ll
see how it all plays out.
For now
though … I do have some time on my hands (see sentence below) – so here’s a bit
to begin.
—–
Currently
I’m stuck in an airport.
Sounds
oddly familiar, right?
My
roommates thought it was crazy that I was going to sleep in the terminal
overnight. And yet, it felt
comfortable. Somehow a bit normal. The only thing missing was about 51 other packs and persons to share in
the experience.
sit in the airport that started the Race journey. Atlanta – September 2006. I remember landing and walking so slowing to
the infamous “clock tower.” I was afraid
someone would spot me – as if I would stick out somehow – “yes – she MUST be a
Racer.” So humorous to look back
on. I was stepping into the
unknown. A big unknown. A long unknown. With lots and lots of
strangers. And a weird blue and white
circus tent.
But I’m
getting ahead of myself.
I walked at
least 2 wide laps around that clock tower. Trying to catch glimpses. Trying
to recognize faces. And then I sat at
Wendy’s for what had to have been the longest lunch ever for the amount of food I actually consumed. My stomach was literally in knots. I had a rather random conversation with a
nice man – we discussed the troops that were deploying seemingly every hour
from the terminal. As much as I tried to
focus on the distraction, I kept the clock tower in the corner of my eye.
“Do I just walk up? Do I introduce myself? Who will I talk to? About WHAT?!!?”
Honestly
… I was a wreck.
____
And here I
sit …. 3 and a half years later. A wreck.
Not in the
same way, but still very much a wreck.
We talk a
lot about planting “Kingdom” with our steps on the World Race. And while I believe wholeheartedly that
Kingdom was planted across the world during my year and a half with the Race ….
I know now that the one place that it’s most firmly planted … is within me.
There are
things that are within my heart that I did not know 3 years ago. Kingdom is hard to describe – to
explain. But you can see and touch and feel and experience it. And that desire is lodged deep within my
heart. For His will to cover the earth. For His justice and righteousness to be manifested here. For the poor. And oppressed. And unloved. To speak of longings – is just weird. At least for me. But there is this longing within me …. For things to be made right. And that – that is Kingdom.
I’m wrecked
because of this glimpse of Kingdom
that I’ve tasted and seen and loved.
So … sitting
here in the same terminal where my life literally began? It’s good.
And our
God? Good as well. To have fallen in love with this man named
Jesus. To love the Kingdom because we so
dearly love the King.
I can only
hope to return to the Atlanta airport in another 3 years.
Maybe with
just a shorter layover. 🙂
