The REAL truth….

During my first training camp for The World Race, us future racers were told to surrender our expectations.  We were told that we are not entitled to anything.   I understand that this may come off really harsh and strong.  My first reaction to all of this was pretty strong.  I felt like yelling at them, saying “You don’t know what you are talking about.”

Well, I will tell you to this day….that the first concepts that pop up into my head are surrender of expectations and entitlement.  See, here’s something about Romania that I never knew:  it takes about twice the amount of time to get something done than it would back in the states.    I don’t know why this is exactly, but maybe it’s because Romanians are more about relationship than they are about getting things done.   I love Romanians with everything I have, so I’m not saying anything bad about them.  I just haven’t been able to get rid of my American-ness.  I mean it will go in due time, but let’s just say I’ve been tired.  The things and time that I would normally expect tasks to be done in, nope…not quite the same thing here.  Something that would normally take me 1 hour to do in America, actually takes me about 2 hours here.  

Back in the States, I would be able to do thing after thing and even more than that.  However, here, I’ll go to Romanian class, nap, work on visa, nap.  What I’m learning is that it’s exhausting to be constantly running, especially without a day of rest.   God took a day of rest, because if He hadn’t, He may have burned out.  I don’t know…He’s God.  But I do know that rest was created to keep us healthy.  

The last few days I’ve been sick…like not with just a cold….like I’ve been so exhausted that I just needed to sleep.  Yesterday, my host mom, Dorothy had texted me asking if I was okay, because I was so quiet.  I’m not going to worry you all by saying I’m deathly sick, because that’s not truth.  However, I do think that if we don’t take care of our God-given bodies, then we are going to get sick.  If we don’t allow The Truth (and of course healthy food) to nourish us, then I think we are asking for trouble.  I’m only saying this, because this is what I have witnessed the last few days.   

You can’t even begin to imagine the foods I was craving yesterday.  I wasn’t hungry, but I was still thinking of all the American comforts I missed.  Starbucks-soy chai tea lattes with cinnamon powder on top and a shot of espresso (dirty chai), Noodles and Company-Wisconsin Mac and Cheese with Parmesan Crusted Chicken, even real waffles…oh!  And anything with REAL cheddar cheese.  These were my comfort foods.  I normally would have somehow managed to get someone to get this for me, even if I was so tired…that used to comfort me…well, not anymore, friends.  My comfort is now, Jesus Christ himself.  He is my Strength and my Song.  He is my Rock and Redeemer.  He is my Best Friend and my Soulmate.  I will tell you, it’s not an easy life.  I haven’t had the easiest adjustment, but I also know that if I surrender my expectations, it will be ten times better!