Expedition Impossible was not a TV show that I was that interested in watching when I first saw a preview for it. It looked like a simple Amazing Race knock-off. However, Sean (my brother) and Donan were excited about it, so I decided to check it out.
The basic idea of the show is teams of three compete in extreme challenges throughout Morocco. The challenges include riding camels, kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking and a lot of rappelling. The teams included fishermen, cops, sisters, urbanites and wilderness guides. The team I ended up rooting for was "No Limits".
No Limits was a group of friends from Colorado. Jeff, is a Physicians Assistant, mountain guide and motivational speaker. Ike, a National Guardsman, and Erik a motivational speaker and author. Oh, and Erik is blind.
Look at that list of activities above. Erik rode camels, blind. He whitewater rafted, blind. He rappelled down mountains, blind. The most amazing moment of every show was watching some challenge that was difficult for sighted people to do being replicated by Erik.
Erik's participation (and excelling) in the competition was amazing. Being a big softy though, these shows are always about the relationships for me. Erik and Jeff have been climbing together for years. Jeff and Erik have climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents together. Jeff has to keep track of Erik in order to guide him. Erik has to trust Jeff. At one point during the show, Jeff and Erik jumped arm in arm off of a cliff into the waters below.
It was amazing to watch Jeff with Erik. Jeff never acted put out by Erik's disability. He was gracious and patient. One time he lost Erik and he was so apologetic, acknowledging that the spirit of competition overtook him. For his part, Erik acknowledged when activities were scary, though he stepped up and did them all (even the camels!).
What does this have to do with fundraising? I was struck while watching the show by the similarities between Jeff and Erik's relationship and my own relationship to Jesus and to students. Like Erik, I need to be led. When it comes to all aspects of my life, I need to someone to tell me "go left!", "watch out for the rocks" or "jump now"! Unlike Erik though, I either fail to acknowledge my need for help, or I see my need for help as a personal failure. Erik is fully relient on Jeff in his expedition, and I am fully reliant on Jesus in ministry, impending fatherhood and just generally living. When I listen to Jesus' voice, wait for His instruction and acknowledge I need his eyes, my life takes on a real rhythm. Fundraising sometimes feels like riding a camel, but doing that with a guide is better than blind and alone!
I also am privileged to function as Jeff in the lives of some amazing students. When I allow myself to be amazed by their growth, risk-taking and faithfulness, I can sit back and like Jeff, be amazed by what they are accomplishing. However, when I get caught up in the lures of success, fear and competitiveness I can run out by myself, ignoring those I have been called to care for and ignoring my own guide.
I realize it has been a long time between posts, probably because fundraising often feels like riding a crazy camel (while blind no less!). I am attempting to humble myself to allow Jesus to be my guide and to humble myself to be guide to students.
