I was wondering why everyone had the same title for this
blog. Now I understand. Which leads me, kind of, to why I’m going
on the World Race. I like to understand things. (Remember
this.) I am not that opinionated on a lot of things because I try to understand
both sides–a curse and a blessing. I have been on several missions trips
over the course of my short–no pun intended–life, but I had never felt called
to “go.” Even as I went through the formative years of my walk
at college through Campus Outreach, I didn’t feel like my evangelical style fit
the traditional mold. (There is some truth to that, but mostly
stubbornness and arrogance.) Flash forward: my experience teaching
at a 99.6% African American school in the heart of St.
Louis opened my eyes. I teach English, but I
learn life lessons. I was dedicating hours and hours each week to TFA’s
educational approach–which I believe is effective–but it isn’t eternal.
Moving out of teaching I really really wanted to work in an environment where I
could serve with my life, I would be helping a person holistically (not just
with education), and I would continue to have my world rocked by God and my
experiences to better understand how much of a cocoon I lived in for most of my
life. (The other day two students were arguing over what Easter celebrates.
One was adamant that it was the birth of God.) During the last year and a
half I’ve recognized my desire to be used by God in my giftings, a call to a
life more than white fences and degrees, my need for dependence on the Lord, the
importance of community, and recognizing Christianity is faith and not just the
world-view that best explains this screwed up planet. Hence, the World
Race.
