As someone who claims to be 100% introverted, I dreaded spending time with people. Every form of interaction was seen as exhausting and something to be avoided at all costs. Debrief was viewed as this glorious period of time on the race where I could hide out in my room, be truly alone, binge watch Netflix, and sleep all day. It’s no wonder, that I then spent the entirety of our 1st debrief feeling unloved and invisible. And worse yet: that I was such a terrible teammate and everyone would be better off without me.
First of all, those are lies. If you’re like me and have ever struggled with these thoughts, it’s high time you learned what God says about you, and how important you really are to those around you. Because the truth is — they love you so much more than you realize.
What does this have to do with debrief? For me at least; everything. My first debrief was essentially a self-inflicted emotional disaster. As our 2nd debrief neared, I knew that I wanted to be more intentional with my time. So coming into it, I had a list of people I wanted to “date”. Therefore, the first 12 hours were spent attending session and scheduling dates with one person after another. Considering that my last debrief consisted of only 2 dates, and those were with leadership, I was feeling pretty good about my schedule this time around.
I remember sitting on my bed that night, alone for the first time, looking over my calendar in awe. Neatly scheduled before me sat 15 dates. 15 chances to deepen my relationship with others. 15 chances to step out of my comfort zone. 15 chances to pour into the hearts of those around me. And part of me wondered “What on earth have I gotten myself into?”, but those thoughts were short lived as the excitement of the coming day soon overwhelmed all else.
One of the nice things about debrief is that it provides a chance to sleep in. Instead, this girl climbed out of bed at 8am four days in a row to meet up with squadmates and take advantage of the time available (if you know me, you know how HUGE that really is). Over the last four days, I’ve drank more coffee, walked further, and dived deeper into 15 different relationships. I had the privilege of hearing 15 people’s hearts, listening to their testimonies, discovering ways to pray for them, as well as sharing all the incredible things God had done in my life lately.
When I signed up for the race, I never expected to discover how much I had allowed my “introvertedness” to define and limit my life. As an introvert I was incapable of socializing, and building meaningful relationships with more than 3 people. Wrong. I just had to find the proper outlet.
If you struggle to share your heart, give feedback, and build relationships with your team in group settings, I challenge you to pursue one-on-one dates with people. That doesn’t mean you need to take it to the extreme and book 15 dates in 4 days like I did, but try to pursue at least one person a day. Look for opportunities to be intentional with your time and relationships.
Have a 30 minute bus ride to ministry? Take a seat next to someone and catch up.
Walking 15 minutes into the city? Find someone and ask questions as you go.
Team needs groceries? Volunteer and chat on the way.
7hr layover in Istanbul? Find a squadmate you want to get to know.
Really, there’s no excuse not to. The World Race provides ample time to intentionally pursue one another in a one-on-one setting, so use it.
And who knows, maybe you’ll discover a passion for one-on-ones. Maybe you’ll find that it energizes and excites you. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll begin to feel even more alive.
I know I do.
