So God has been teaching me a lot since I launched on this crazy adventure. He’s taught me how to trust Him more, how to rely on my community, and how to carefully study His Word. He’s given me a deeper understanding of His creation and it’s diversity, and He’s shown me just a tiny glimpse of the vastness of His love. But no lesson was more poignant than the one I learned yesterday when I wrecked a motorbike with my teammate Christina on the back.
A group of us had rented motorbikes and were exploring the beautiful Bolivian countryside surrounding the quaint river town of Rurrenabaque. It was by far the most incredible experience of my race to date. On our way home, I was navigating through a giant puddle with a tiny strip of mud to cross it. And at the last moment, I lost control of the bike. Limbs went everywhere, with the bike falling on my lower body, and Christina landing on my upper body and catapulting over me, injuring her knees in the process.
Initially I thought the only thing I injured was my finger, which would have been a miracle. But as the shock to my body wore off, I realized the entire left side of my body was in serious pain.
BUT…here’s the cool part. I experienced so much grace and mercy in the process. My team, including Christina, my passenger in the wreck, were so incredible. When I thought I would have to pay to repair the bike, Christina offered to pitch in. When I was in pain, my team leader, Karissa, would leap up to get my medicine. When I was upset, any given teammate would pray over me, encourage me, and remind me that I was loved and valued….and that it was an accident, it could have happened to anyone.
The enemy had tried his darnedest to get inside my head and blame me for this…makes sense right? We know why they call him “the accuser”…but I experienced some of the most tangible unconditional love and grace of my entire life. The Father so graciously reminded me that I was loved….period. No matter what happens, I can’t do anything to change His love and pursuit of me.
He’s called me out upon the water, and sometimes I fall. But Jesus immediately reaches out, picks me up, cleans me off, and carries me home.
