Debrief was a time to reflect on what the Lord has taught us in India and to rest and relax before another month of ministry. I spent some time reflecting and getting to know my other squad mates, but after spending a month in a compound I felt like a dog off of his lease. I find rest in exploration and Thamel was an awesome place to explore. There are dozens of backpackers and tourists in the area and has a similar vibe to other mountain towns I’ve visited. Everyone is playing reggae music and the whole place smells like incense. It also might be the hipster capitol of the world. I tried to pack as many adventurous activities as I could during our off time including trekking, visiting a monkey temple, trying a lot of different restaurants, going to concerts, and making friends with fellow travelers. We stayed in a hotel and realized our definition of luxury changed in the last month. A warm shower, a western toilet, and a real bed are luxuries I probably won’t take for granted by the end of the race. I went out by myself to listen to some music and ended up making a really cool friend. His name was Umar and he was a travel guide from India. His charisma, quotes, and life experiences reminded me of the “most interesting man in the world” from the dos equis commercials. He was Muslim and I’m a Christian and those friendships are almost unheard of back in the states.
We got breakfast one morning and we talked much about our beliefs in God and why people travel. There are a couple of quotes he mentioned that were quite philosophical and challenged my view of travel and relationships. I asked him as a travel guide about the westerners he interacted with and he told me, “I love westerns because they travel with more questions in their bag than clothes.” I was struck by this quote and it made me think about why people travel. We knew our reasons for being here, but I wondered what all of the other tourists in Thamel were searching for. It seems as the draw to traveling involves not only adventure, but an advertised, “go find yourself” mindset. I can see why the “go find yourself” mindset is appealing. You are thrown into various cultural scenarios where your challenged to adapted and act confidently. If your really adventurous, you will do things like climb mountains, bungee jumps and face various fears hopefully finding strength you didn’t know you had. I know this because I’ve been enticed by those same wander lust before the race. The sad part about this is that the pursuit of oneself eventually hits a dead a dead end. No matter how charismatic or self-aware the individual, you cannot truly understand yourself without knowing the one who made who. I’m not talking about your parents, but the one who, “knit you together in your mothers womb (Psalm 139)” Don’t get me wrong, I’m still figuring out who I am and what future plans the Lord has for me; but I take comfort that I’m exploring this with the one who know me best and has good plans for me.
As I finished talking having breakfast with Umar he went and paid for my coffee. I insisted that he didn’t have to but He said, “I could use this money to buy a book or an audiotape its fine because I’ve learned a lot from you.” This quote made me think about how much I valued conversation and what I’ve learned from other people. I’ve been blessed with great friends on and off the race who have taught me so much. In this small gesture I’m reminded not to take relationships for granted and to listen to people with intentionality and interest.
Overall, I would encourage you to travel regardless of your reason. Explore, wander, try new things, make new friends, eat strange food, face your fears and soak up life. But don’t travel to find yourself. Seek the Lord always in adventure and everyday life and you will truly come to know who you are and what you are made to do.
