Almost two months ago, I packed my little Ford Escape to the hilt and moved to Florida. To go on the race, I had to quit my teaching job, so I left North Carolina and moved in with the sister. The running joke amongst my friends and family is that Florida is my World Race training ground. I've even started using the self-created hash tag #WRprep
Running in so much humidity it feels like you're dredging through a swimming pool…no biggie, just #WRprep
Doing landscaping in a tropical storm? Just #WRprep
Having 47 ant bites….on one leg… #WRprep
An alligator lives in that neighborhood pond? #WRprep
Watching a lot of Bear Grylls and Bizarre Foods? #WRPrep
(Hint: I would NOT recommend the latter…unless you are prepared to imagine yourself eating duck-blood pizza and goat testicle soup. My sister thinks watching this is hilarious.)
Saying good-bye to all of my North Carolina loves? #WRprep
And as jokingly or seriously as I have said some of these things, I am sure God is using my time here in Florida to prepare me for the many challenges and adventures I will face next year.
What I am doing next year is such a huge deal in my life that everything seems to be focused on the work and ministry there. However, in church a few weeks ago I had another one of those in your face, convicting God moments. Not like being yelled at, but kind of like an "ah-ha" moment mixed with the look your parent or teacher gives you when you know you've been caught ( the "teacher look" is a special talent of mine, but I still don't like being on the receiving end).
The Sunday school teacher, while discussing discipleship and lifestyle evangelism, read 1 Peter 3:15.
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Peter 3:15, 16 NIV)
And in the back of my brain I heard. "Always. Did you hear that? Always. Not just on the race."
Boom. There's the look.
I have been so focused on getting ready for next year, that I've completely neglected the fact that ministry is an always thing. Not just when you go to church events or on mission trips. Always. It would be easy to view next year as another box on a "Get into Heaven"checklist somewhere between "Get Baptized" and "Read the Bible in a Year." But this is not a step by step process; it cannot be oversimplified. So this is my newest WR challenge. How am I preparing myself spiritually? What am I doing right here, right now, to share the Gospel? What does true #WRprep look like? We are already facing spiritual attacks, and the race is still months away. I ask now, faithful supporters and readers, for your prayers that my team and I would take the right steps to be spiritually prepared for the race. For that is the only preparation that truly matters in the end.
