"And let us run with perseverence the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1b
I read this verse during my devos the other morning and it suddenly held a lot more significance to me than before. As I was reading, it seemed to say "Courtney, run with perseverence the World Race marked out for you."
Let me just tell you that God has been preparing me for the World Race my entire life. Yes, that's super weird to think about, even for me. But it's true! I've mentioned this in an earlier post, but let's just take a good hard look at my life thus far and notice different ways that God has gotten me ready for this crazy adventure.
1. I LOVE THE OUTDOORS! I grew up with a huge yard with the Cleveland Metroparks literally in my backyard. I'd go hiking with dad sometimes, or build leaf piles (more like leaf mountains!), or go pick blueberries with mom. We also spent tons of time backpacking as a family. When I was five years old, my mom and dad and I went on a 10 day canoeing/backpacking trip in Algonquin provincial park in Canada. Let's just say, this is an intense trip for a five year old! Needless to say, my love of nature has only grown over the years. After my sophomore year of college I started working at a summer camp. My first summer I got to help out with a program called "wilderness camp." While wilderness camp doesn't actually take you into the wilderness, it sure feels like it sometimes. I was counseling with my two best friends that week and we decided to go on shower fast. We were looking at our lives, at society, and at all the absolutely unrealistic standards set for women. Rather than spending our time in the mornings showering/looking good, we spent our time doing devotions together and growing in Christ. Let me just tell you, going a week without showering may not be pretty, but I can do it! My second summer I found myself back at wilderness camp again for another week. Another opportunity to cook over a fire, live on only the necessities, and sleep outside. This summer, I'm heading back yet again (have I mentioned how much I love this place and couldn't think of spending my summer anywhere else?). And this time, wilderness camp has expanded to three different weeks. And my crazy boss decided to put me in charge 🙂 So here's God's handiwork, somehow orchestrating everything from day one of loving the outdoors, heading to camp, working wilderness two years in a row, and learning leadership skills and more fun outside for summer number three.
2. I LIVE REALLY FAR FROM HOME! God gave me a crazy adventurous spirit which desperately wanted to get out and experience something new after high school. I decided to go to the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!!), 1062 miles from my house. That, my friends, is pretty far. My first semester it was really hard to be away from my friends, family, and hometown. I have never lived anywhere else other than Ohio and had had the same friends for 12-13 years. (And obviously I'd had the same family since forever.) So here I was, freaking out. But I made it more than 3 months until I begged to go home for Thanksgiving. Each semester, through random scheduling and other such stuff, I've ended up staying at school longer and longer. This time around I will have been gone from home from the end of December until the end of May. While that may not seem like a lot for some people, that's a ton for a hermit crab like me! But, once again, God was preparing me, teaching me how to handle being on my own, and not receiving loving hugs from my family every single day. 11 months, while I know it will still be extremely hard (and much more than 1000 miles), will be easier than it would have been 4 years ago.
3. I'M SPRITUALLY READY FOR SOMETHING MORE! While this part of the story is much too long for this particular blog, it's still very true. Even a year ago I do not think I would have seriously considered going on the Race. God has drastically changed my heart, teaching me the importance of sharing his Word with others, and reminding me that there is a lot more to life if I follow his path than try to do it on my own.
Anyway, all that to say that God has prepared me for the World Race my entire life. But what if I had given up somewhere along the way? What if I had just decided that I couldn't make it in Oklahoma and gone home? I probably would be way too scared to venture to other countries for 11 months. What if I had never worked at camp? I probably would be too scared to go even a day without showering or to do any number of other things. But God has planned every single step for us out ("the race marked out for us") and we just must run. Run and run and run into the loving arms of our amazing God. Keep getting after it, step by step, following his path for our lives.
Right now, the race marked out for me is The World Race, and I am trying my very best to run it with perseverence. What is your race and how will you run?
