We leave for the Race this coming July.
Questions begin to rise up: What’s it gonna be like? What are you going do? Do you think you’ll eat this, go there, do that?
These are great questions. I’m dying to know the answers. I want to tell the epic stories now, before they even happen. But as excited as I am I want to take a mental step back, instead of rushing forward. Here’s why:
EXPECTATIONS.
We are living in a world saturated with our own expectations. Expectations in themselves are not a bad thing, but we have to be careful especially with the big stuff off in the distance. Here are a couple observations I’ve made:
Unmet expectations result in depression, dissatisfaction, and disappointment.
Expectation uses “should” language. I should be married. This Professor should be on time. We should already be there.
Expectations can become rigid, or we set them so low just to save us the disappointment.
Possibly the scariest thing of all is that Expectation tries to write our futures for us. It says how things should be and plans on it.
Two summers ago, we had a youth group arrive to our camp and after showing them to their rooms, one of the girls broke into tears. The housing situation wasn’t what she expected. Regardless of what was going to happen the rest of the trip, things were already off on the wrong foot. Why? Because she had expected one thing and experienced another. She had let her hopes crystallize. On some level we are all guilty of this. The great danger is that while we expect things to go a certain way we could miss the awesome reality of what God has planned and is doing in our midst.
We serve a living God. Surprise. He most definitely does. Because so many times our expectations are based on our own meager experience and our own limited knowledge. Then God calms the sea, heals the sick and shows us He is the one who is able to do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine. The girl who started off her missions trip with tears because she wanted to leave couldn’t stand to go by the end of the week–God is good.
The World Race to me, is a chance to experience God in a deeper way, through service, people, culture, obstacles, worship, prayer, community, miracles, adventures and so much more.
My goal, my expectation, is to dive into the journey ahead and to seek to abide in the Lord, all the way. I expect Him to be who He is, and who He has promised to be–time will tell just what that looks like.
Be Blessed!
If you would like to find out more about the World Race Click HERE: About The Race
Here is the list of countries we are planning on visiting: Countries
If you would like to join my fundraising effort Click HERE: Support Me!
