I just got back from Training Camp on Saturday and I have been so intimatidated to start the process of blogging about it. I've decided this is going to come through many different blogs that are all defined by specific moments that give a glimpse into my experience at training camp.
This first defining moment happened before training camp had officially begun but it was a huge defining moment for me.
So I was driving to training camp praying and worshipping. I was anxious and nervous but ready to see what this week would hold. Seeing that training camp was just outside of Cartersville, I live only an hour away! YAY! No flights or long drives for this girl! I was pumped. When I first looked up the directions, I saw that I would drive on 75 N and get off at Exit 290 Rome/Cartersville. This may seem random to include, but what you don't realize is that I have made this drive more than 100 times in the past 4 years. You see, I get off at that exact exit to head to Shorter University.
I have driven these familiar miles many times and with many different situations. I have driven alone. I have driven with family. I have driven with friends. I have driven stressed. I have driven excited. I have driven laughing. I have driven crying. I have driven praying. I have driven overwhelmed. I have driven broken. I have driven after church. I have driven after dinners full of friends and laughter.
This very drive that I was driving on my way to training camp has been beyond familiar. That drive is second nature to me and has always landed me to the beautiful place of Rome and Shorter where God's faithfulness has been so incredibly present. That place has become my home and safety. I have met the most incredible people and had had such wonderful memories while I've been there. I've been loved and accepted and safe there for the past 4 years.
So I'm driving and my nerves start really growing as I turn of that infamous Exit 290 that I've turned off so many times. But something very different happened. Instead of turning left to head toward Rome like I had all of those times before, I turned right. I was literally turning in the opposite direction of all that I had known over the past 4 years. Tears came to my eyes and my emotions began to surface as I realized that I was officially leaving my world of comfort behind and stepping into unknown.
"Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:61-62
In that moment, I wanted to desparately to turn left to head to Rome. I wanted to go visit the Admissions office. I wanted to go to Starbucks with Tyler and Angel. I wanted to go to Chick-fil-a and use my free sandwich coupon.
But God had called me to step into His Kingdom like never before, without looking back.
There is MUCH more to come about training camp! Thank you for your prayers as I went through this challenging week!
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