There is so much I could write about. I could write about what God has shown me. What God is teaching me. What I have seen. What I have been through. I have spent a few days praying and thinking about what to write. What stuck out the most to me was… Ignorance is bliss. I know, I know, what? Let me explain. We as humans love to be happy and duh who doesn’t want to be happy. I can’t speak for anyone but myself but I know that prior to the World Race. I was content and happy living in my protective little bubble. I liked being blissfully unaware of what actually goes on in the world. Well y’all that protective bubble of ignorance is bliss was straight up shattered this year! I figured coming on the Race was going to be awesome, challenging, life changing, gut wrenching, beautiful, joyful and every emotion you could think of rolled into one package. I expected this coming in yet, I still wasn’t prepared. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like this and I don’t think you should. That’s part of the beauty of the World Race. You live moment by moment. Expect the unexpected. Hope for the impossible and dream the biggest of dreams. One of my fears coming into the Race was how I was going to handle certain situations? Like a homeless women begging for food in Cambodia. An India woman shoving her child into my arms asking for help. A little boy being forced to take part in a drug scam. Seeing women and children in the sex trade industry in Thailand. These are all very real things that no one wants to think about, let alone see or talk about. These things need to be talked about though. You can’t have change without recognition. I saw a quote this morning that struck a cord. “Everyone you meet is going through something you don’t know about…. BE KIND ALWAYS.” Is it time to pop your ignorance is bliss bubble and step out? We all don’t have the opportunity to travel, donate money or volunteer every weekend but we can acknowledge what is going on in our neighborhoods, our communities and our world. Next time you see a homeless person. Offer to pray for them or buy them a meal. Next time you see a mom with her hands full at the grocery store yelling at her kids, offer her help with her bags. Next time you see someone having a hard day. Offer them kind words and a hug. You have no idea what people are going through or why they act the way they do. What I have realized is God equips us for every situation we are faced with, big or small. As long as we keep our eyes on the Lord he guides us. It might not be an easy or fun path but it’s Gods path. If only we all loved and accepted people as Jesus did. What a beautiful world that would be!
