this is an answer from the Q&A blog. feel free to ask more! 🙂
Question: How would you promote the Race to potential Racers? Who would you recommend go? Who would you discourage from going?
Answer: First of all, let me be honest:
I spent more days trying to go home than being excited about where I was. I'm not proud of that, but it's true. I was a mess at launch and that really affected me for months (as a lot of family and close friends know).
That being said, I am so grateful I stuck it out.
Now, how would I promote it? I wouldn't.
I'll talk about it in the same way I talk about recent experiences in my life (aka, all the time). But I'm not going to walk up to a stranger and say, "Hi, my name is Natalie- can I tell you about the World Race?"
That's just weird.
There are a handful of people I have specifically encouraged to go, because these are men and women who are either seriously seeking God's calling on their lives and would benefit from the extensive experiences the Race offers, they're looking for some seriously authentic community, or they're desperate to see the Lord work in bigger ways than their Sunday morning church experience is providing.
Don't get me wrong- I love the church body.
I just wish the (American) churches within the body would wake up a little (or a whole freaking lot)…. but that's a different blog.
Who shouldn't go?
Look, if you need me to tell you to go, don't go. I'm serious. If this is something that's stuck in your mind and tugging on your heart, it sounds like the Lord's trying to get your attention. But if you need me to say, "this is it!", close your browser, turn off your computer, grab your Bible and get alone with God. Your decisions should be based on Him, not me.
They say the Race is the best and worst year of your life. It's true. It's a hot mess every day. It's hard. Non criers will become criers and criers face the risk of drowning. You'll get sick physically and emotionally. You'll be spiritually attacked (and it'll probably be really scary). You'll be pushed out of your comfort zone so far you'll fall of the comfort cliff. And then you'll be pushed some more.
And it's the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
I'm not going to tell you to go. All I'll tell you is the experience I had and show you the person I've become (and continue to become). But this is your life, not mine.
Your response is your responsibility.
