Why the World Race?

So.

We have to talk about it eventually.

Why the world race?

Why now?

Why me?

Even now I don't know all the answers, but I can try to fill you in on what I do know.

First, why the world race.

It didn't hit me at once.

It didn't really 'hit' me at all,

it was more of a bump.

And then a nudge.

And then a few more bumps

until I couldn't ignore it.

I have a friend* from college,

we didn't keep in touch too much,

but she was an athlete like I was

and we both attended a

bible study together.

And she would post these blogs on facebook.

And, one day, I started reading them.

I had no idea what the 'world race' was,

but I saw from her blogs that she was on it.

And seeing how Jesus was touching her life,

and hearing her be so honest in her walk

with Christ, was so refreshing to me.

And it touched me.

But life went on,

and I forgot about the race

But then she would post another blog,

and I would grow more curious as to what

she was actually doing. I knew she was

traveling, but I didn't know why.

And so I read about the race,

and something in my heart moved.

And I tried to ignore it.
Oh boy, did I. 

The reasons not to go were endless,
and the things holding me back all but impossible to overcome:

I'm in graduate school and will never get time away

I'm sick all the time

My back can't even handle a two hour car ride, more or less 20+ hours bus rides

I don't really want to sleep on the floor for 11 months

There's no way I'll be able to raise the money,

and the list honestly went on, and on and on. 

I can't leave.

I can't go.

Not yet.

Not now.

The race sounded cool for other people,

but that's not where I was meant to be.

And I would pray, and I would go 

about my business...but I would find

myself spending more and more time 

reading the blogs of people currently

on the world race.

And I would feel this nudge,

this burden,

this freedom, 

this TRUTH,

that God was calling me.

And I knew exactly where.

But I didn't give in that easily.
I had to be reasonable. Logical.
And I'd be lying if I didn't spend nights obsessing over the obstacles seemed insurmountable,

and the support that would have to be raised,

and the healing that would have to take place in my body,

and, of course, the disappointment I would have to deal

with from friends, and coworkers, and family,

and my boss.

.

But, if you've ever heard God call,

then you know what I was feeling.

When God calls,

there's only room for one thing.

And it's not pleasing everyone else,

and it's not trying to reconcile my life with the American Dream,

and it's not making my parents proud,

or saving for the future,

or thinking, "surely you don't mean for me to go, now."

There's only room for one thing.

He wants an answer,

and He's going to get it.

And it'll either be a yes,

or it'll be a no.

And I want to say yes.

Of course, I'm immeasurably excited 

to Go, and to Serve, and to Love

all the nations of this world.

To leave all my comforts behind

and just go all in with Jesus.

To see His kingdom come here on Earth. 
To tell people about the

very Best News I've ever heard.

Of course, I'm so excited about all of that.

So much so that it almost seems like a dream.

But that's not why I'm doing it.

I'm doing it because God called,

and because I wanted to answer.

I wanted to say yes.

So this is my blog, and this is my race, and this is me, after all of this time, fianlly saying yes.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—

the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses 

all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on 

the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, 

can they call on the one they have not believed 

in? And how can they believe in the one of whom 

they have not heard? And how can they hear 

without someone preaching to them? And how 

can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it 

is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those 

who bring good news!”

[Romans 10:12-15]

I don't know about you,

but I want my feet to be

beautiful.

*That friend now has an awesome blog and an amazing testimony. I would highly recommend you visit her blog over at The Tattooed Missionary :)