Hope everyone is keeping safe! About a month has passed since the announcement of my race changes and I’ve had some time to process.
With everything shut down delayed or canceled. I have had a lot of people asking me about what is happening with me and the world race. My trip has been delayed to depart in October 2020. It is taking me a little bit of time to process all of this and find peace with the continuing changes and uncertainty in this time. But a dear friend and mentor (Shoutout to Christine??) reminded me “ this didn’t surprise God. He knew, in His plan all along, the day you would leave”. I’ve never been great with unexpected changes and this pandemic has certainly derailed quite a few things, in all of our lives. But I’ve also been able to reflect and find so many positive things within this period of stillness.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”
-Psalms 27:14
One of my biggest revelations was that I would have had to come home. Let me give you some context:
Joining the world race in August of 2020 was not my first choice for The World Race. I had applied to be a part of the team to depart August 2019. If things had gone according to my plan and I had not been told “ not yet” by God, I would have been pulled off the field 8 months into my race.
This last year, I have been doing a lot of work within myself to better understand… me. Without this last year I don’t think I would have been able to handle being taken off the field very easily or well. God knew this and so He made me wait. Now as I prepare to leave in October I have been able to see so much good. God has given me more time that I didn’t think I needed. My summer was supposed to be packed to the brim with training camp ( more details on that later), running an entire summer camp, attending weddings, visiting family and friends, and moving out of my apartment. There were so many things that I wanted to fit in the summer and I think I would have left the states completely exhausted, which was the last thing I wanted to be.
Now, I have time. I still get to attend all of the weddings ( those have all been delayed because of covid-19 too) I don’t have to rush to try and visit all of my family and friends. And only God knows what else I’ll be able to do.
On my desk I have a sign I was given to me by a friend for my birthday and it says to embrace the journey. I was so focused on the journey of the race itself that I became blind to the journey before the journey begins.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.”
-Jeremiah 29:11
It will be October before you know it, but I’m greatful to slow down with you during this time of uncertainty. I loved where you wrote, “I was so focused on the journey of the race itself that I became blind to the journey before the race begins.” God does amazing things in every season of our life, even the ones that seem less consequential. God loves you so much Teresa and I’m excited to have a front row seats for what he’s doing in your life now.