I quit college after finishing my junior year. Well, not exactly, there is more to the story… I am taking a year off to go on the World Race. But to explain how I got here, having just finished my junior year of college and deciding to take a year off, I have to tell you a story. Get comfortable because it’s a tad bit long but totally worth it. I promise. I hope you’ll connect with me through my story.
Three years ago, I moved to Mobile, Alabama from my hometown of Bushnell, Florida to run track and cross country at the University of South Alabama, but I am realizing that there were much bigger things in store for me to discover.
After two years of running, I decided it was time to turn a new page in my life, I forfeited my scholarship. It wasn’t an easy decision but it was the best decision. I never wanted to be a quitter but that day I was, and looking back now I’m thankful I was able to put my pride aside and quit.
My years of collegiate running were messy. They were filled with injuries, tears, disappointments, failures, and insecurities. My love for running was dead by the end of my two years.
My freshman year was the worst – I reached the absolute lowest point in my life. In all the messiness, God had his hand in it all; He loved me and kept pursuing me despite all of my shortcomings. My sophomore year can be described in one word “growth.” I started attending Mars Hill Church and got plugged in with the college group. I’m grateful for my friends who locked arms with me and walk through the difficult times, constantly pointing me to scripture, and inviting me into their lives.
During my sophomore year, I also started volunteering at Light of the Village, and later became a summer intern. Talk about more growth, both my spiritual life and my passion for children. The more time I spent serving LOV, the more the Lord tugged on my heart to devote even more of myself. There, I learned a lot about what it meant to be a follower of Jesus; that it required sacrifice, surrender, and uncomfortableness. I began learning how to truly recognize God’s voice, and that I really had been hearing him all along, but what changed was now I was listening.
I had just one problem, running still demanded so much of my time and attention. Amongst all my stress and anxiety on how to continue going to USA but while also serving at LOV, God so graciously reminded me what truly mattered, and it wasn’t how fast I could run 800m. After much prayer, I knew without a doubt God was leading me away from track but into something far greater.
So, I quit.
The past year of my life looked far different than the last two. Without running, I was able to devote all my time to my passion for Jesus, ministry, and children. I grew immensely, and I found myself with opportunities I never would have imagined. I learned more about God, and even a lot about myself, too.
Still, I felt I was held back by my fears. I prayed boldly to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. (Let me tell you, that wasn’t an easy prayer and I don’t think I was completely sure what I was asking for.) Jesus absolutely answered my prayer request, and He took me farther than I ever thought I could. He still stretches me farther day by day. I think I failed to mention my irrational fear of public speaking, a fear that has kept me back from so many things.
Scared and excited, I agreed time and time again to opportunities to serve that honestly were out of my comfort zone. I led a DNOW group of some of the most incredible high school girls (which still to this day have no idea the impact they had on me). That weekend we stayed up way too late, broke down walls, and learned what it meant to follow Jesus with every part of our lives. That weekend I also learned a very valuable lesson, it’s not about me, it’s about the Kingdom.
Once again, another opportunity practically fell at my feet, I was introduced to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home. There, I fell completely in love with the girls in the house and my heart was wrecked for the hurt those kids have lived through. My heart was heavy leaving ABCH that afternoon, and I knew I had to do something more. I couldn’t adopt every single one of them like I wanted to, nor could I adopt even one, but I could love them fearlessly and I was going to do just that. I could show them the love of Christ, a love they likely never experienced from their parents. The love they knew wasn’t love at all really, and that left me heartbroken. Now months later, my love for my ABCH girls is bigger than ever.
There is something about serving “the least of these” that I deeply love, after all Jesus did it.
I felt the Lord calling me to something greater.
I guess that about wraps it up and brings you to date. So, that’s why I quit running, and it’s why I’m putting college on hold. Now for the next year I will strive to become more like Jesus and serve the world like he did.
…be alert for my next post expanding on why I chose the World race.
