September & October Update
I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on my preparation for the race next year. But this past month has been anything but easy, both mentally and psychically. For those who don’t know me I was in an accident over the summer that saw the car I was driving totaled and myself with some lasting injuries. But don’t be alarmed it’s nothing to keep me from going, its only added to the fire burning inside to go. But also, the end of October brings with it a tough time not just for me, but for my family. It marks the one year since my mother passed away after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer and joining Jesus in heaven. This season of my year brings a bag of mixed emotions, but I’ve been able to get through this time with prayer and my amazing family.
These last few months have also jump started a spark within me to expand my service within my church. I no longer only serve Sundays, but now Wednesdays and Thursday nights. Helping co-lead student ministry groups and young adult groups. I’ve been praying, hoping these new areas strengthen me in an area I struggle with so that I could be better prepared for my time in the field. And that area; my identity. I struggle to really see who I’m supposed to be, who God created me to be. I’ve caught myself lately trying harder to fit into a stereotype. Conform to what people think of me or who I should be. It’s like I’ve forgotten to ask or care who Christ wants me to be. That’s why I pray these areas of ministry not just strengthen my skills needed for the race ministering to the youth, but to identify who that person Christ wants me to be.
Church ministry hasn’t been the only place where I have found struggles in these last months. It’s also been at work that I’ve been challenged on many fronts. For those of you who don’t know me, my day job is a high school ese resource history teacher. For the most part my kids have been fantastic, but others have been a handful. I’ve caught myself jumping to conclusions and placing blame of their short comings on themselves. But that was all before really asking why they were happening in the first place. I’ve come to learn that many of my students come from troubled home lives that’s influenced behavior and affected educational achievement. I think one thing sometimes as teachers we forget that everyone is facing something. We may say, hey we’ve all been there before and look we made it out alright. We forget the same excuses they use, are the ones we used. Because at the end of the day we face and went through very similar issues. It’s like in Matthew 7;1-5 where is tells us not to judge, or we will according to the way we have judged another, or in John 8; 1-8 when Jesus goes and sits on Mount of Olives and group of Pharisess brought forth a women caught in the act of adultery only to be forgive as no man was left to stone her when Jesus asked for only the sinless can pass judgement. I say this because I must first be patient in this matter, but secondly and most importantly forgiving and understanding for I to have been where they sit and gone through what they have gone through.
Honestly, I’m never too sure what I’m suppose write on here. I’ve written probably 3-4 other posts but never posted, always unsure if they even made sense. So I hope this will suffice till next time. For those who aren’t yet supporters please go ahead and subscribe to the blog, donate to my journey or even just send prayers. As they are just as welcomed cause lord knows I need them. If you’re interested in a shirt of mine comment down below. God Bless you all.
