Let me just say that after 19 years of being in school (I know so many of you have me beat with that number-but let me revel in this, please!), it feels so good to finally be done with it all! To be truthful, this last semester all I could think about was the World Race and everything that encompasses it: fundraising, researching/buying your gear, reading a TON of blogs about the race and how to pack (racers you know what I’m talking about!) and all in all letting God prepare your heart for the race in whatever way that looks like. The last thing I wanted to be focusing on was school…WORLD RACE HERE I COME!!
Since graduating I’ve been able to really focus on this trip and fundraising (because after all, it’s the next thing right??). I’m thinking WRONG! And here is why:
I had a friend ask me a couple weeks ago what I’ve been up to other than trip planning. There honestly wasn’t much to tell because preparing for the race IS what is taking up my life right now. We live in a culture that is always rushing, always looking and living for what’s next instead of in the here and NOW.
While it’s true the race is what’s in store for me this next season, what if it isn’t what’s NEXT? While I’m preparing for this huge trip that I know is going to transform my entire life, there are opportunities right in front of me that I do not want to miss either. Things such as friendships that are developing at my church and in my community. Things like the Color Run and Paint Nites and summer baseball games. Things like weddings and celebrating newborns when they arrive. Things like girls nights or sleepovers (because, yes, I’m almost 24 and still have them…it happens when you’re perpetually single!).
The race is where God wants me for the next 11 months for sure, starting September. But what about the rest of June, July and August? Yes, I’ll need to be preparing for this crazy thing, but I also don’t want to lose sight of adventures God might want to take me on before the race even begins.
If you’re reading this, know that God has his own adventure to take you on. Maybe it has nothing to do with missions work-not everyone is called to do this kind of thing. I don’t know what His adventure is for you, but I do know He wants each person’s life to be transformed by the work of His hands. As I learned in church today, we need to be SUBMISSIVE, HONEST (I personally love the word ‘REAL’) and also SEEK GOD’S HEART in order prepare for God’s transformation in our lives-and the transformation/adventure will look different for each one of us 🙂
