So there I was, laying on my thermarest, in my little tent, listening to Garth Brooks on my iPhone.
I know what you’re thinking, “Ash listens to Garth Brooks?”
Call it me missing Fridays at work,
(for some reason we would all listen to Garth on Fridays there in my office at Forest Home),
call it me just trying to get some alone time, call it me reminiscing about my first concert with my dad
(yeah, my dad took me to see Garth when I was 8), either way Garth was speaking to me.
"Too many times we stand aside,
and let the water slip away.
And what we put off till tomorrow,
has now become today.
So don't you sit upon the shore line,
and say you're satisfied."
Let’s be real.
It’s month 10 and I haven’t strolled through target, chilled at chipotle, or gorged myself on power berries in quite a while. And I hate to say it, but I’m tired physically, mentally, and spiritually. But here is the thing, I’m big on finishing strong. That is one thing Coach Lucas drilled into my head all those years running cross-country.
Always.
I don’t want these last moments to slip away. I don’t want to think back on this time as me sitting on the shoreline waiting for the end. I don’t want to think that, “this is all God had for me” and be satisfied with what I’ve learned up until this point.
So there I was, jamming in my head,
"There is bound to be rough waters, and I know I'll take some falls,
with the good Lord as my captin, I can make it through them all!"
Yeah Garth! With the Lord’s strength and help I know I can finish strong in this journey.
It reminded me about saying “yes” to the rest of this journey.
“I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
these waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination if I never try
So I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry.”
As I started feeling encouraged, the Lord reminded me that His river of grace, love, provision, wisdom, and love never ever runs dry. That I can keep going, knowing in confidence that He has so much more in store for me this next month and the months after.
I am choosing to say “yes” to what else he wants to teach me, what else he wants to show me.
So today I leave you with this, as Garth would say,
“choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.”
Oh and of coarse, go listen to, “Sail My Vessel” and think of me.
Love,
ASH
