“Get Uncomfortable” Writing Contest Winner

Bumped from our overseas flight and weary after hours at the embassy, we began walking through Los Angeles, knocking on church doors in the hopes of finding a place to spend the night. When one of my companions pointed out that my feet had begun to bleed from so much walking, all I could say was, “Well, at least this will make a good story.”

Stories have always been my consolation. By telling a story I can redeem the events of a treacherous day or an exhausting summer into something meaningful and beautiful. Ask me about any of my mission experiences before Asia, and I could tell a narrative of exhaustion and grace, labor and fruit, each culminating in some strong moment that made the whole experience worthwhile: “And then we finished remodeling their dilapidated sanctuary”; “And I spent a night in the homeless shelter”; “And then I told the children about Moses and the Israelites.”

And so, as my trip to Asia began, neither visa troubles nor imminent homelessness could discourage me because I knew that being uncomfortable was part of good mission trip stories. Yet, I returned home at the end of the summer without a story to tell. Sure, I had a few anecdotes about teaching an ESL class, early morning prayer meetings, and late-night games with the university students, but these events had no meaningful climax to make my trip seem like anything more than a glorified tourist holiday. I failed to see how teaching subject-verb agreement did much to advance the Kingdom. Even worse, my Asian roommates and I interacted more like awkward girls at summer camp than mature college women, and because they rarely spoke English, deep spiritual conversations never happened. The underground Christians I met were dynamic and humble, but I had much less to offer them than they were able to teach me. Bleeding feet I can handle, but to feel so ineffective unsettled me more than anything.

To lack a story feels like failure, and the empty pages of my journal mocked me as I packed for home. However, as I waited for the van to take us to the airport, one of my students tearfully told me that she would always remember the foreign teachers, because we sat on the floor. It took me a moment to understand, but I finally realized she was referring to a time when several of the American teachers had given up our seats so that a few more students could see a movie. We hadn’t thought anything of sitting on the floor. But for the Asian students, who greatly respect their teachers, giving up our seats was a strange and scandalous grace. Suddenly I understood: instead of reassuring my own need for meaning, God gave me a glimpse into the story he was writing in the heart of one of my students. Not having my “own” story still discomforts me, but our Author gives baffling joy as recompense.

We asked you to submit stories of how you stepped out of your comfort zone and made a difference in the world. Many of you told us how you struggled or triumphed when you stepped out to be involved in community-building, service, missions, or social justice issues. For her winning contribution, Bethany is receiving an exclusive 30gb white Threads iPod with the Threads logo etched on the back. The iPod is loaded with over 50 songs (all of the songs from the Get Uncomfortable, The Exchange, InTransit, Tough Sayings & Connect the Dots playlists), and trailer videos for each of the studies—a value of over $300! Thanks to everyone who entered! We appreciate you stepping out and getting uncomfortable in the name of serving others. To show our appreciation, we’re going to send out a complimentary “Get Uncomfortable” Member Book to all of those who submitted stories, and “Get Uncomfortable” Leader Kits to our five finalists!