Hi from Bosnia!!!! I can’t believe we’ve finished our time in Asia & moved on to Europe. It’s beyond amazing to be here…our first day in the country we got to sleep in this place up in the mountain town used in the Sarajevo-hosted Olympics back before my time…it was a-mazing. I loved being in the mountains again & it was the best welcome to a new continent that I could’ve asked for. It was also a precious time to say goodbye to a man who has become such a dear friend — my teammate & brother — Coleman.
I know I haven’t said much about my new team yet, but Coleman is the first who I’ve gotten close to. I remember him from training camp…he was a lot quieter back then, but now I know that it’s because he was taking the time to observe people.
He is unlike most people I’ve met…smarter than me for sure, but not in a way that is ever intimidating. His favorite things to talk about are his family, ridiculous junior high boy jokes that aren’t funny at all, & things deeper than most people ever want to spend time thinking about.
His favorite TV show is 60 minutes because Coleman has an endless thirst for knowledge. He’s also read more mind-expanding books in the last year than I have in the almost 10 years more of life I’ve had than him. & he doesn’t just read books by people he agrees with — he reads all kinds of books to better expand his mind & see other view points, all the while somehow improving or strengthening his current understanding of his own faith. With all his vast knowledge, he still hasn’t strayed from the belief that the Bible is the source of all truth & he definitely strives to live his life rooted in those truths.
I could say many more things about this guy, but the most important thing is that he has become such an invaluable friend to me. I’ve rarely journaled since the start of the race, but one thing I remember writing that very first week at training camp was that I immediately felt so much love for Coleman — as if he was my own little brother. & now I had to said goodbye…
We went for an early morning walk up the mountain road & just shared some of the most pressing things on our hearts. Coleman was leaving the race early because he got accepted into his dream medical school, & even though I already miss having that guy around so much, I needed him to know how much I supported him. I had the honor of being there during some of the big decision making moments — I got to hear his heart as he processed, listen to his e-mail to the school requesting deferment, & pray with him as he had to decide if he’d stay or go…
(Our morning faces…oh boy.)
It seems so long ago now…it had been a huge decision, but I know Coleman chose correctly. I was just gonna miss him so much. Having him on my team after leaving all the puppy pack girls I had become so close with felt like a hug straight from God Himself.
Coleman & I didn’t really small talk…we talked about real things. Deep things. Honest things.
This final talk was no different, but it seemed so much better because it was in the mountains. It was a challenging talk. It was an expansive talk. It was a hopeful talk. & it was an unforgettable talk with my little brother on the precipice of something great.
Now, I’ve spent a lot of time around the exact kind of doctors Coleman wants to become — a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. & honestly, I could build up his ego & talk about how brilliant he is & what a great fit he will be & how good he is with kids, but that’s not why I think Coleman made the right decision.
Normally, I would never advise anyone to leave the race, but Coleman is different. He had already said no to all the medical schools he had gotten into so he could stay on the race, trusting God could get him in a 2nd time when he applied again post-race. He had literally already given it up, & when he surrendered fully, God gave him his dream.
Truthfully, Coleman is an exceptional man, but it’s not his intellect alone that will make him outstanding in his field — it’s his heart.
So cheesy, I know!
But it’s true.
This is a man who loves people. A man who follows Jesus. This is a man who sees people for who they can be & challenges them to reach their potential. This is a man who won’t let tragedy turn him from his faith. This is a man who loves his family & prioritizes them even when it isn’t convenient. A man who searches for, sees, & seizes opportunities to care for the souls of people.
Bonus, this is a guy with a fantastic sense of humor, even if junior high boy jokes are funny to him — it’ll come in handy someday when he’s setting the fractured bones of teenaged athletes 😉
There are going to be many brilliant men & women that Coleman will meet, train with, & learn from, & though I know he will absorb every ounce of wisdom they have to offer, I also know that he will leave them with so much more. Because Coleman carries with him the Light of Jesus Christ Himself…the Holy Spirit lives in him & together, no one’s going to stop him.
CR Beddingfield, MD.
Remember that name…I guarantee it will be great some day.
I love that I got to meet him now, before he goes & achieves all the greatness that he will inevitably accomplish & become. I love that I got to see him for who he is & that I got to know his heart. That I got to punch him for being a turd. These are the memories that I will cherish forever because Coleman is family, & he’s going to change the world.
When I prayed for him that last morning we were together, I asked God to bring us together again in the States & felt confident that He will make that happen. I am so so happy to say hello to Bosnia this month because it helps ease the sadness of the goodbye. But as you pray for our team & all that God has in store, please also think of our Coleman & how hard it was to leave & how quickly he has to jump into preparing for medical school & all that is coming his way — pray for him too.
Our mentor, Stacy, asked Coleman why God might bring him on the race only to have him leave in the middle. That’s a fair question, & though I don’t know all the answers, I am positive that the answer in part was for me…because I needed a friend. Someone to challenge my intellect & someone to inspire pursuit of knowledge. Someone whose heart I can appreciate & someone with a future that I will forever cheer for.
Coleman, if I had decide if I would let you come on the race again — this time knowing that you’d leave us suddenly half way through — I’d say yes every time a gajillion times over. You made a difference here, Coleman Beddingfield — & I am so glad to have been touched by that difference. I am thankful that I got to be on a team with you. You left an impression on my soul & it will always be an important part of my story on the race.
So congratulations, Coley…I miss you terribly but I’m praying for you & I am so very proud of you & what you’re doing for the kingdom. Press on little brother. Love you, pal.
& for the rest of you — more Bosnia updates very soon — stay tuned!
Hello, goodbye.
