
i believe the culture that has developed is strong and positive in many aspects. the intimacy that the WR cultivates is astounding. granted, it’s welcomed by some and forced upon others – but that’s ok – either works. ha! in the end, it’s something that most of us have never experienced in our lives. real, true, honest, refreshing intimacy. something happens along the way – for some it’s at training camp and they’re immediately an open book – others, like myself, take awhile … either way, it’s so good to finally be at a place of acceptance. it doesn’t happen hardly ever in our normal lives – even in the context of our spiritual lives within church or so called “community” groups.
this is something i didn’t really understand until AFTER the race. i didn’t realize it, but my team and the race family had become over the course of the year deeply connected to me. it was a depth of intimacy that i hadn’t ever known. and i think it’s what Christ calls us to as the Body. we’re way too cut off in our world today from one another. for the first time – i really saw and felt and understood what it meant to be the Family of God. we would sing about it in church when i was little, but it was always a vague concept that was floating out there. but now – i can honestly look at these Racers, whether on my squad or the new friends i just met in Romania and call them “brother” or “sister.” the depth of that concept is new to me and i never would have known it without the race. something about the shared experience allows me to email Sara Choe and arrange a time for us to get together to meet since she is moving to the DC area. or for me to meet all of the other alumni like Matt and Andi and Caroline and Gretchen, etc. in Romania and immediately have a base to start from. the strong culture and experience help develop that intimacy even among alumni and people who wouldn’t otherwise know each other. it’s really cool to see.
and yes – i would probably share my toothbrush with them too. ha – talk about CULTURE!!! you should just start polling racers – during their application process and then at final debrief …… “would you ever, if asked, share your toothbrush with another person?” and “on a scale of 1-10, how weird is that concept to you right now?” ha. it would be interesting to see the answers …. and just how NORMAL that would seem to many by the end of their year. 🙂
only downside to culture? the expectations that come along with it. that was probably my biggest trip up on the race …. i wanted to have my own experience, not the experience someone else told me i was going to have (or needed to have). that’s a tricky one. because ultimately, you’ve got 50 plus people walking different journeys. every single one will have a different experience. i think as long as we encourage a “culture of expectation” vs. a “culture of expectations” we should be good. expecting the lord to work and move – lots of times it will probably be the same way in many people, but never quite knowing what to expect!!! ha.
my hopes for WR culture? i think that’s what i started thinking about the most. more than “those crazy people who lived out of a backpack for a year” – what do i want the WR to be known for????? that we treat others and each other well. that we desire to serve. that we love and treat our contacts well. that we are life-giving and speaking. that we know who we are. that we are fearless. and bold. because we really believe this crazy idea about the kingdom here and now. that we walk this thing out past 11 months. that it’s not about an experience – but about a life-well lived after that experience. those are just a few to start. my hopes at least. for the culture and the movement and the generation.
anyway – i’d be curious what you see in the culture – is it all rainbows and good things?
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Oh my. I don’t believe I signed up to actually BE your post Seth!!! And here you didn’t even explain that my shift key was broken – I look like a mess. Ha.
So – where are the thoughts YOU had – now that you’ve shared ALL of mine with the world!? 😉
love this blog michelle and its so good! i’m so glad that you were on my race and we get to be in this thing together! you’re a rock star!
thanx michelle for sharing this – lowercase and all.
i especially loved this part that you write: “only downside to culture? the expectations that come along with it. that was probably my biggest trip up on the race …. i wanted to have my own experience, not the experience someone else told me i was going to have (or needed to have).” i definitely had my “i refuse to drink the kool-aid” moment while in africa, though now – especially after being on the other side of training camp – that there really is no kool-aid.
seth, it was great to chat albeit briefly with you. michelle, i’m excited to see you!
“It’s not about an experience.”
That’s good you said that b/c many of the short-termers we work with are all about the experience and, though subtle it may be, to me this reflects more selfishness than selflessness. Yes, it’s good to have “experiences” but that should be the effect not the cause. And when we have a young generation that loves to get ramped up on experiences I always tell them to be careful what they ask for – they just might get it! Like one particular team who literally told me they hoped to have the “traffic cop” experience while in Mexico. Well a week later after they pushed south they did in fact have that “experience” – having their van impounded and having to sleep on the cold floor of the police station. In the end they collectively had to cough up $2,000 USD to get it out. Ahhh la santa experiencia!
Hey Seth!
I definitely think the World Race culture is alive and beautiful! I have been driving back with my new friends/family (lol) and it lifts are sprits to look back and think and laugh about everything we just encountered. We loved the culture we experienced there because at the heart of it was love, compassion, and a desire that above all else the Kingdom of Heaven would be brought to every person here on Earth.
Now we just can’t wait to experience even more on the Race!