The Trip That Changed My Life
2015 was a wild year. I was in the middle of my studies at Bible college, and a friend told me about this bizarre group of Mennonites going to Iraq to help people fleeing from ISIS. I sat in the presentation they gave, and it was really something what they were doing. But I knew for sure I would never go to someplace as dangerous as Iraq, and instead (after the talk) asked how I could support in a stateside role. The presenter immediately responded by saying what they really needed was someone with a camera to go and make a video of the needs. That was the last thing I wanted to hear, since at the time I was doing freelance video projects for nonprofits. I DID NOT want to go to the Iraq. Its easy to forget just how wild things were in the area they wanted me to go; at the time ISIS was unstoppable, having fielded one of the largest armies of this century. Any day now people were expecting the group to take over Baghdad and other major cities. It was anyone’s guess what would happen next, and there was a real chance that if I went the airport could get captured and I couldn’t get home.
But after thinking and praying for a week, I started warming to the idea. I still didn’t want to go, but I needed a good reason to tell the organization I couldn’t do this video. So I thought of the perfect excuse: I would call my Dad and (of course) he would be a good parent and say that (obviously) I shouldn’t go, that I should remain where its safe and be responsible by staying home and working a good job. That phone call is forever imprinted on my mind. It went like this:
“Hey Dad, there’s this new organization that wants me to do a video for them. They’re doing some great work….but ummmm…..well…. Its in Iraq.” These was complete silence on the line…. Then I heard the last thing I was expecting: Dad started chuckling. Not exactly what I wanted to hear; after all, I just told him they wanted me to go to basically the last place on earth a reasonable person would want to go. And then he said: “So when you going?”
My last excuse for saying no was gone. I had to take an honest look at myself and ask why I was so resistant to the idea. In the end it essentially came down to selfishness (which is about the worst motive when attempting to make an unbiased decision). It’s pretty easy to convince ourselves with good sounding arguments to keep from doing the right thing, especially when the right thing involves unpleasant circumstances. Staying in the comfort zone is so much easier.
In the end I got on a plane and spent two weeks in the stunningly beautiful land of Iraq. Within a day I fell in love with the people and the rich history and culture flowing through the region. I knew beyond doubt Iraq would play a significant role in my life; I didn’t know how but there was something special about this place and its people. Fast forward to today, and I’m in leadership with (and helped start) a nonprofit working in that region.
That two week trip fundamentally changed the course of my life; I can’t imagine what life would look like if I was not part of this work. And it all started with my Dad being courageous enough to encourage me to go.
Face unpleasantness for the sake of the good. Do what is right even when it costs you, even when you wish with all your might you could do something else. I know. I’ve experienced that. Sometimes all we need is someone to gently nudge us in the right direction, to reassure us to take this path. The words we say can change the trajectory of an entire life; speak true and honestly. Your words matter. They have impact. It was 7 years before my Dad even knew how incredibly life-altering his words were to me. Often we won’t know the influence our words have in the lives around us; but be sure that those words matter.
Thanks, Dad. You changed the course of my life in the span of one sentence.
You can follow most of my journey through the Middle East at this playlist on my YouTube channel. I document my trips and work there, as best I can.
Sunset in beautiful Iraq.