Surprised by relationships I wasn’t looking for
Karen and I are headed to Guatemala tomorrow morning to do the
final debrief of our World Race team that has been going around the world for
almost a year now. It is such a thrill to see these young people come
alive.
Along the way they got rid of a ton of internal baggage, began to
drill down to their true identity in Christ, and they began to wake up to what he’s
doing in the world and how to join him.
So it is such a privilege to assist them in this process. When we first
started the World Race, I thought that it would be a year and then they’d move
along in life, leaving me to process some new group. The surprise for
Karen and I is that we can’t let them do that!
During the course of a
year as we watch them press in to the growth process so intensively, we begin
to fall in love with them. And by the end of the year, many of them feel
more like sons and daughters than they do like participants in some program.
So as we become enmeshed with these young people, our lives are being changed,
just as their lives are changing too. I was born to build things and
manage things – that’s been my identity for much of my life.
But these
kids are turning me into a softer version of that person who listens to stories
and gives hugs and even weeps when they’re going through a hard time.
It’s disconcerting and awkward sometimes, as most deep change usually is.
If it were just a debrief or two,
it wouldn’t happen, but 
when we help launch them at training camp, hang out and
comment on their blogs, pray them through their crises, and fly around the
world to meet them counsel them and encourage them in who they’re becoming, it’s
just an inevitable thing.
Some of you empty-nesters out
there need to try this ministry – it will wreck you. You can start by reading their blogs here.
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I’m so encouraged by how much you and Karen care and desire to see growth in each of us! Thank you for caring.
Because the racers know how much you care is one of the major reasons the wr is so life changing. David and I are approaching that empty nest and we are praying that the Lord will open doors for us to be able to be involved in ministries like this.
I wonder how the amount of internal baggage compares to the amount of external baggage they’ve dropped as well!!! It’s fun to watch how Racers start with WAY too much stuff and come home with nothing! These guys have been a great group… it is definitely a privilege to be a part of this!
We appreciate you Seth & Karen and all of the rest of you!!!! I hope you hear that lots, but if not … it’s true! It’s a uniqueness of the program … and an obvious strength as well! Wouldn’t be the same without you!
love love.
I echo what Michelle said! I definately appreciate both you and Karen. Thanks for pouring into us and continuing to encourage us.
and even more grateful that it doesn’t stop with the WR… it is truly a “relationship”
the love and acceptance felt from the top down made it easier to love and accept each other and ourselves. you are all amazing. the world is being changed.
Thank you Leah, Jen, Morgan, Michelle, and Dre. Your kind words and the heart behind them mean so much to Karen and I.
We’re here in Guatemala having a blast with the June07 Racers on the last couple of days of their race. They are doing awesome and give us the encouragement we sometimes need to keep persevering in this dream.
Andrew and Mo are with us. Today we take a boat for $3 and hang out at this beautiful place http://lacasadelmundo.com/ as we do our one-on-ones with them. Life is tough!