– The endless plates of garlic chicken
– Morning workouts on the playground
– “Team Time”
– Riding in stranger’s pickup beds
– Language Barriers
– Nicaraguan Sunsets
– Missing my Momma
– An absence of chickfila in my life
– Surfing around the world
– Preaching to the nations
– Having kids rip my hair out
– Crying and not knowing why
– Conquering Volcanoes
– Washing clothes in a lake
– Fans substituting for A/C
– My World Race
– The Battle
As I sit here trying to phrase this news as best as possible I think back to my first blog where I recall saying something along the lines of, “These won’t be well written masterpieces, but more so jumbled thoughts and feelings of what the Lord is doing in and through my life.” So with that being said forgive me for what might possibly be a jumbled, chaotic mess of a blog.
I am going home. It’s been 8 months of a [insert any combination of adjectives you want] ride and I am headed home a month earlier than expected. Time after time, we’ve been taught to expect the unexpected so here I am with the news that my mother has been diagnosed with cancer. It’s not fair. It’s not fun or pleasant, but God is good. After a couple weeks of prayer and talking with God, I feel certain God is calling me home and that my “mission” is home, my mission is family because as my dad put it so well a few months ago, “Family Matters.” The Lord has taught me so much these last 8 months. He has taught me to be a man of faith, a man of humility, patience, and trust. The Lord has taught me to Love from the cross and not from my own strength. He has shown me heaven. He has shown me grace, healing, love, and awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping beauty. As my mom, myself, and my family enter through this time of hardship, pain, and uncertainty I know our Father has called me to simply live as the man He has and is continuing to shape me into.
Take a look at the last thing on my list. “The Battle”. One of the most beautiful things The Lord has shown me in this trying circumstance is that yes indeed, IT IS FINISHED. Tetelestai. It’s become a running joke during my race, the word Tetelestai, simply because it was my first team’s name. I think it’s slightly humorous that my final thoughts on this journey are the one’s I started it with, but with a whole different meaning/understanding. As I sat one night coming to terms with this news of my mother I became precautious of my feelings that I began to feel. Deep down in me after hearing this news came an uncontrollable joy, hope, and smirk radiating from my heart because I knew and felt with everything that I was that IT IS AND HAS BEEN FINISHED. Satan has been defeated. Sin is defeated along with your mistakes, slip-ups and battles you’re going through and that are coming your way. This news and feeling doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, smooth, or without pain. What it means is that there is hope. Hope for healing, hope in the simple fact that all is and will be, more than okay. God has got this, I don’t. He does.
I fly out Thursday, May 5th to Baltimore, Maryland for 10 or so days to be with my mom and dad for surgery and recovery. I will return home around May 16th. All I can say is thank you. Thanks God. Thank you reading this, thank you for prayer, for responding to the call to give to my trip. Thank you for every message, thought, and every ounce of love you have for me. Just like God’s love I don’t deserve it, but you all have loved me so well. Racers, Family, Friends, Community. Thank you, I love you all so, so much.
I come to you once again, asking something of you. I ask for prayer, prayer for healing, a miracle, and nothing less. God calls us to pray bold prayers. Whether you’re in prayer for my family, your family, or obstacles you’re facing, pray boldly and have faith. God is good y’all.
See you soon.
In Christ,
Parker W
