That Trip Was a Big Deal

This week, I’ve asked my friend and colleague Katie Olson to share with you. Katie leads marketing and helps oversee our short-term trips at The Stone Table. She brings nearly 20 years of experience across both the marketplace and vocational ministry, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of faith, work, and mission. 

I’m grateful she’s part of our team, and I’m excited for you to hear from her this week. 

-Bill Tibbetts 

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I recently had the joy of bringing my oldest two kiddos on their first overseas missions trip. It caused me to pause and reflect on mission trips I took when I was younger. 

One of those trips stands out above the rest. 

I was 19, young, and had no idea what was about to happen. 

I had signed a sheet saying I would work out 3–4 times a week to prepare for the trip. I had gone on other trips that required morning prayer before school, maybe a team covenant, but never a trip that required me to work out to prepare. 

This should have tipped me off. 

This trip was crazy. But it wasn’t until this recent reflection that I realized just how crazy! 

We hiked through the foothills of Laos to remote villages that looked like they were straight out of the pages of National Geographic. 

And when I say remote villages, I mean REMOTE. 

There wasn’t an actual trail. We had a local guide leading us through the jungle with a machete, clearing the way as we went. 

It was HOT. 

And at elevations I was not used to. 

It was the music on my iPod Shuffle that kept me going. So, as you can imagine, after that died, I freaked out thinking, “How am I going to make it?!?!” 

Now it was just me, the altitude, and the heat. 

Despite being physically ready and fit for that trip, this Midwest girl was in rough shape. 

My recent reflection on this trip hit me with new thoughts: 

“Oh my word, that trip was a BIG DEAL! 

I can’t believe I did that at 19! 

There was no way that was safe! 

The grit it took to do that trip! 

If one of my daughters did this when she was 19, I would be amazed! 

I had no idea at the time what a big deal that was.” 

I’m amazed at what the Lord had strengthened me to do more than 20 years ago.  

Then I felt the Holy Spirit whisper… 

“It’s like that trip. 

You don’t realize what a big deal this season you’re in right now is. 

You’re showing up. You’re daily inviting Christ into it. 

You’re going to look back in 20 years and think, ‘I can’t believe I did that! I made it through! That was a big deal.’” 

And that hit me. 

Because if you are like me, the failings and shortcomings scream loudest. And quite frankly if I let myself, I would feel like a failure in my current season. 

So what BIG DEAL are you walking through right now? 

Pause for a minute and let the Holy Spirit highlight what you are doing well. 

Turn His volume up. 

Let Him remind you: 

“Wow. That’s a big deal. 

You keep showing up. 

You keep inviting Jesus into it.” 

And maybe 20 years from now, you’ll look back at the season you’re in right now and think: 

“I can’t believe I did that. I made it through. That was a big deal. Jesus, You carried me through.”