So, a big part of the Race for my Squad is that we are being used to make a World Race documentary. Long story short, a Christian media company decided to partner with Adventures in Missions (AIM… the parent mission organization for the World Race) to put together a documentary about the Race. They decided to follow one squad’s journey through all 11 months and that squad happens to be mine. Anyways, each team on my squad was given a media bag (hard drive, laptop, professional video equipment, etc.) to film and document everything we see and experience and each team has 1 team member who is the “field producer” and is in charge of the bulk of the film stuff. Personally, I occasionally pick up the camera but not too often. BUT, the biggest part of the documentary is telling stories, telling the stories of people on the squad, our ministry contacts, and people we meet. Pretty much anyone is fair game to ask if they would be willing to do an interview so we can hear their story. It is an extremely unique experience and it has put me in the mindset of seeing people and not necessarily wanting to interview them but wanting to just hear their story, especially captivating stories that could be told to people back home and to the world. With that in mind, I have come to the tough realization that I can’t tell everyone’s story. I can’t. It’s just not possible. As much as I would like to tell everyone’s story I interact with too many people… and I only participate in a small part of people’s journey. For example, a couple weeks ago we were doing ministry and a middle-aged woman accepted Christ. That’s super cool… I would love to hear her story… but, what would be even better would be to come back in 5 years and hear what God has been doing in and through her since today. It would be cool if I could hear every person’s story and then share their story with the world but I can’t. How do I pick and choose? Everyone is special, every story is important. How can I say yes to one but not to the other? It’s hard, so hard. I look at people, even random people I’m walking by, and I’ve started asking myself, what is their story? Where did they come from? How did they get here? But that is what is cool about God; He hears and listens to all of our stories. God knows all of our stories and tells our stories to people. He uses our story for His glory and His kingdom, and that is the greatest honor and privilege one could have.
So I guess I would challenge you to take the time and listen to someone’s story, whether long or short. Take the time and show someone you care by listening. They are important and their story is too.
