When people ask me why I believe in God, the first thing that pops into my head is not some sort of logical proof, nor the majesty of nature, nor even my own testimony. Rather, it’s the little things. Some may call them coincidences, but I think there’s a difference between a coincidence and something that literally could only have happened if God had orchestrated it. It’s these moments, these little answered prayers, that show me on a daily basis that God loves me and isn’t just some dude in the skies looking down at us.
This is how I found my one true backpack.
To be honest, lately I have been feeling pretty passive about the World Race, not really wanting to be proactive about fundraising, getting to know my squadmates, and other preparations. It all just feels like too much to handle, and hey, September is still pretty far away, right? Well God knew I needed a little reminder that yes, in fact, this is actually happening and is not some crazy dream I can wait out. So He decided that it was about time I had a backpack.
I really wasn’t planning on buying most of my gear until the summer, when I’ll have more free time and there will be graduation money burning a hole in my pocket. On the other hand, I am all about getting the best deals on things, and I blatantly refuse to pay full price for any of the expensive pieces of gear I need for the World Race. For this reason, since finding out about the website steepandcheap.com (future racers and outdoor enthusiasts, take note!) I have been stalking it diligently for good deals. Their business model is selling one highly discounted item at a time for only 10-20 minutes, so if you see something you like you pretty much have to buy it immediately. No deliberation allowed.
I’ve been randomly checking this website for several weeks now, and never have I ever seen a backpack like the kind I need for the World Race. I was hoping to find something more generic like a sleeping pad on the website; I figured I would need to buy a backpack at a store since it’s kind of imperative to try those kinds of things on before you buy. Last week, however, I decided to check steepandcheap, and lo and behold a backpack was there. Not just any backpack, but the exact kind I want for the race. Not just any backpack, but a women’s backpack in particular. Not just any women’s backpack, but a women’s backpack in my favorite color (this was the kicker). And of course it was at an incredible price. I had to take action.
I stared gawking at the screen for several seconds before realizing I only had ten minutes to snatch this baby up! Ok, ok, I click “add to cart.” It asks me what size I want. What the?? Since when are there sizes?? Ok, ok, they have a size chart. The size chart says….I have to measure my back??? What the heck is the C7 vertebrae?? I sprint to my roommate and ask her to awkwardly measure my back. Ok, ok, it’s 15 inches. I sprint back to my room. But that’s right on the borderline between small and extra-small! Which one do I choose?? Ok, ok, small it is. No way am I that short. I click on small. I click “check out.” Smalls are sold out?? Ok, ok, extra small it is I guess. Purchase.
About 30 minutes later I freaked out. What if the pack didn’t fit? What if it was totally wrong? How would I even know if it was wrong? Did I just waste all that money?? I decided in the middle of the night that I needed to go to REI right away and ask a professional. So the next day, I did. I walked right in there and asked one of the employees if he could teach me about backpacks. We walked over to the backpacks as he explained to me that there was really only one brand that would have packs that would fit me (that’s the brand I bought! yes!) and that I would probably be a size small (nooooooo I bought an extra small!). He gave me a small to try on, but after adjusting it he took a step back and said, “Actually, looking at that on you I think you’ll be an extra small.” Long story short, the REI guy ended up recommending to me the exact pack that I had bought off the internet not even 24 hours earlier for less than half the price. God is good 
So now I have a backpack, the quintessential World Race gear that I will be somehow living out of for 11 months. Looking at it sitting under my bed reminds me daily that the race is real, that I need to be proactive, and that God ultimately will take care of everything.
