There is this guy at my work who runs every morning, no matter what.
For instance, he ran this morning…at 5:15…when it was 3 degrees outside. Now, I’m not going to call him crazy, but if I had to option of joining him or joining a quilting club that meets every Tuesday and Thursday, I’d have to think long and hard. If I’m going to run, it had best be on a 94’ court, in-between two steel hoops that are 10’ above the ground.
So, I’m not a runner. But, I am a Racer! A Racer is what someone is called if they are on the World Race. I am called a Racer because I was called to the Race. I was called literally (got accepted over the phone!) and spiritually (by God). I would like to tell you about my calling, and since one story is vastly more entertaining and important than the other, I’ll let you imagine what the phone call was like.
In January 2013, I took a trip that forever changed my life. Maybe it was because I ate camel meat, but probably because God challenged me and stirred in me like never before. I took a trip to Khartoum, Sudan.
And I took a camel to get there. Just kidding. I flew.
God showed me so much in the week that I was in Khartoum. He showed me the need for Him, in both the world and myself. He showed me dedication, discipline and a servant’s heart in those whom I was visiting. He showed me life, because on that trip, I felt alive. After coming home, I was so filled with life that I had to get it out. My church was incredible and let me preach on my trip and what God was doing in me, and from there it was a ball that would not stop rolling.
That ball rolled its way into volunteering at a local homeless shelter and getting more involved in the youth group in my church (shout out to Thrive Student Ministry!). That ball rolled its way into reading more, praying more and, honestly, deeply questioning more. Why do I do what I do? What do I really believe? Why do I believe it? Who the heck says that’s what I’m supposed to believe? And why don’t more people realize the deliciousness of hot chocolate?
Mmmmmm.
Some questions were, admittedly, deeper than others. But as I asked, doubted, questioned, and confronted, I began to find, learn, hold on to and stand strong. Life moved on, until one day, a friend of my little sister said that she had a friend (quite the connection) who was doing this thing called the World Race. She knew that I was looking for an international mission opportunity, and she thought I might want to check it out. And so I did check it out. For three straight days. Couldn’t get enough! The videos, the blogs, the questions, everything. It was at that point that I knew I had stumbled (been lead) onto something. Something cool, adventurous, reckless, different, exciting, intense, purposeful, intentional, epic and, best of all, immensely focused around spreading the Gospel of my Jesus. I was hooked, and I told myself that I didn’t want to be one of those fishes that got away. So I applied, was accepted, and now I am going to 11 countries in 11 months to be a fisher of men.
Looking back, I can see a trail of Holy Spirit breadcrumbs laid out behind me; I can see how the questions catapulted me to a new place of comfort in my Lord. I can see the faithfulness, I can see the events which still make me say “Okay, there’s no way I can take any credit for that”.
I have so much yet to learn and experience, and so much of the Christian faith leads me pondering, questioning, wondering. Are there times of doubt? Big ol’ yes. Are there times of apathy? Less enthusiastic yes. Are there times of nothingness? ___. (See what I did there?) But are there times of Joy, Abandon, Freedom and Fulfillment like never before? YES-hua. I am constantly figuring out that I know nothing, and what I do know, I did not figure out. I do know, with a certainty that comes from deep within me (but not necessarily from me) that I am meant for this. I am meant for these 11 months and these 11 countries. I am meant for this, because before the foundation of the world, God meant to someday make me, and make my paths straight.
God laid out his plans for me, laid out his hands for me and lead me to this point where I stand ready to Race.
