One of the reasons I originally loved the idea of the World Race was because it puts people in a place where it’s just them and God. But early on in my Race, while in Nepal, I learned that that’s a choice I have to make for myself.
We arrived in Kathmandu on a large bus at night. Although it was late, the streets were crowded with people. Bright lights were everywhere. Row after row of stores stretched as far as I could see and a large Nike store reminded me of back home, causing my mind to wonder to all of the things I could buy. A buzz of excitement ran up and down the bus. That bus ride always makes me think of Vegas.
It was the first day of debrief, a time where the entire squad meets up with our coaches and mentor for a few days of training, sessions, and rest. We were left to settle in and figure out dinner for ourselves. As I roamed the streets I found small stores with stacks of shelves full of chocolate, candy, and cookies. Oreos, Snickers, gummy bears, Sprite, Cadbury. It was junk food galore and I was excited!
To be completely honest I’m not even a huge fan of chocolate and cookies but that didn’t matter. I hadn’t expected to see brands I knew from back home – that was what flooded to mind. I didn’t have many Nepali rupees but still managed to spend over an hour in the first store trying to figure out what I wanted. Finally I narrowed it down to Oreos and gummy bears and made a plan to come back the next day and stack up.
For the rest of the night the small group I was with talked about what we were going to buy and how much we missed back home. We went into a restaurant and ordered pizzas and burgers and I, for one, ate much more than I needed. It felt like a great day.
The next morning I woke up early to spend some alone time with God. The room I was sharing with 9 other girls was too crowded, so I climbed up to the rooftop of our hostel to pray and watch the sun rise over the crowded city. From that rooftop I couldn’t see the bright lights and rows of stores inviting me in. Instead I saw the range of mountains in the far distance and the beauty of God’s creation. The unceasing, loud noise became a distant memory. And the crowds of people were too far away to affect me.
I asked God what He had for me this month. He gave me a picture:
Someone was standing before God trying to see him. But as the person stood there a sheet of cellophane was placed in front of his eyes and the view of God through the cellophane became distorted. What had been clear was now fuzzy and all that could be seen were lights and colours.
He then gently told me that all of the items I wanted to purchase were distractions that put my heart in a different place. One where I went to treats that reminded me of home rather than to God for comfort. By putting so many distractions in front of us the enemy hopes that our focus will be on those things rather than on God. And it works. In putting my comfort in things I wasn’t allowing God to give me all He had for me.
The World Race gives me the option to have it be only God and I. But in Nepal I discovered that it’s my choice to make. I learned to go to the rooftop far above the city’s distractions so that I could see God clearly. In the peace of the rooftops I was able to learn what God had for me and trust Him with more. I’ll never forget the rooftops of Nepal.
‘Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.’ – Proverbs 4:25 (MSG)
Me and some of my teammates are still trying to reach our final deadline. Please pray about supporting one of us. Our final deadline has gracious been extended!
Sabrina Lyle – $4801 (http://sabrinalyle.theworldrace.org)
Michelle Song – $4350 (http://michellesong.theworldrace.org)
Naz Hagos (that’s me) – $2428 (http://nazhagos.theworldrace.org)
Destiny Trotter – $1236 (http://destinytrotter.theworldrace.org)
Candace Van Doren – $101 (http://candacevandoren.theworldrace.org)
