It's month 9 and obviously I am excited about home, it's getting close. I am also a little hesitant about wanting to go back. We have received our re-entry packets this last de-brief to begin processing the last year in order to be better prepared for America and have a pleasant re-entry experience. Tickets back to Michigan have been purchased, it’s becoming more and more real and quite frankly, it’s terrifying. The closer it gets, the more questions seem to float around in our heads and within the squad.
What are you going to do when you get back?
Are you going to search light?
Have you thought about CGA?
What about G42?
What do you think about squad leading?
Are you spending time in Boston after we land?
Where are you going to live?
Are you ready to go back?
I find myself on the receiving end of these questions, but also the one dishing them out. We are all curious to know what’s next and like every other person we like to have things planned out. Sometimes however, you just don’t know where life is going to lead you next and it’s actually more fun not knowing. In my opinion, it gives God more room to work since your thoughts, ideas and plans are out of the way replacing them with His greater ideas, opportunities and plans.
It’s not going to be easy going home and moving on from the season of the World Race where you got to hang out with your best friends all day, have them available 24/7, worship anytime and pray with them anytime you want. You’ve lived life together for nearly a year, seen each other through thick and thin, laughed together, cried together, and ultimately served God all over the globe. It’s a special bond all of our teams have built and community our squad has created in these 11 months and leaving it cold turkey to be instantaneously thrown back into a life that doesn’t quite fit you anymore is going to be challenging to adjust to. Nonetheless, it’s going to be so good moving into a new season where we can take the things we’ve learned and implement them into each one of our lives. God is gracious and knows the difficulties we are going to face. As the time comes to say goodbye to the World Race and hello to life back in America I ask that our family and friends show us grace and give us time to make our way in the life we once knew.
With a lot of talk and planning for the future I want to challenge everyone to stay and live in the present. Fight for what you are doing right now, do the best you can, give it all you got and be intentional about each thing you do. We are never going to get these moments back. Things are never going to be the same way again. Take in the moments around you, stay a few extra minutes wrapped up in your favorite robe, embrace a hug a couple seconds longer, smell your favorite candle just because you can, take in the fresh air when you step outside and enjoy your time with a favorite pet. God tells us to forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead in Philippians 4: 13. He also calls us to specifically where we are at and has things to teach us now in this season of our lives. I am learning more to let him take care of the future and be patient until the time comes where he wants to reveal things to me. For his timing is always right and in all things God works for the good of those who love him; Romans 8:28.
It’s bittersweet I get to go home to my family in America and leave the World Race, but amazing to know we have just gained an amazing family of believers that will always be there too.
