How can you tell that this chapter is VERY quickly coming to a close? My ability to focus is that of a two year old. I sat down this morning to write blogs and have some devotional time, and could not focus on anything for more than 5 minutes because my brain keeps bouncing between here, home, packing and about a million other things.
Anyway, here I am waiting on dinner and forcing myself to answer at least one question today. Keeping in the theme of community;
What do you most appreciate about your teammates?
A LOT. But I think the question is better posed as “what do I most appreciate about my squad mates?” as I’ve now been on three very different teams. And I appreciate various things about all of the teams and all of my teammates and squad mates that I haven’t been on teams with.
I think what I’ve come to value most overall about my teammates is how they have such a unique way of being able to speak truth to me. This morning, for example, I was talking with Rachael and Kelley about some going-home stuff and both of them were able to not only gently tell me what I already know I should do, but remind me of how much I’ve grown and have to offer in that area.
I hope that makes sense. There have been very few people in my life who can so clearly articulate to me what some of the people on my teams have been able to—and I know a lot of it has to do with how we practice feedback on the World Race. How we encourage listening prayer and vulnerability with each other.
Coming on the race there were things in my head about myself or my identity or what God says about me that I knew were true, but there was always a disconnect. Turning head knowledge into heart knowledge is hard in the best of circumstances when the world tries so hard to tell you who you are. But having people around you who you know are speaking truth in love to you on the regular are vital to the process of relearning those truths. And knowing who God says you are is vital to being able to live out your calling.
If this isn’t the clearest, I apologize. I’m distracted and finding this is kind of a hard concept to put into words right now. But in short, my concept of identity as God created me is much stronger after these 11 months largely because of the truths that the people on my teams have spoken into me. Look for people in your life who do that, they will help you grow the most. And take some time studying all of the times that the Bible encourages us to “speak truth in love” to each other —and yes, this means even the hard stuff.
Until tomorrow…which by the way will bring me to my final bed of the World Race! We’re moving to Kuta in preparation for final debrief!!!
