Well…training camp is right around the corner. Literally. Right. Around. The Corner. This is the first major World Race related event for us, and for most, probably makes this experience all the more real. Things come into focus really fast when you are thrust into an environment with 50 people who will become your family. The anticipation has been building for months and months, with extra amplification the last few weeks. We’re ready. P squad is READY.
But here’s the deal, I’m not at training camp yet.
Let me say that again: I AM NOT AT TRAINING CAMP YET.
Which means, God doesn’t have me at training camp yet.
God has me here in the good ole 5-1-2…Austin, TX. He has purpose for having me just where I am, right here, at this particular time. And that is something to be celebrated! Not something to grumble at. The fact that the God of the Universe, the One who parted the seas and sprouted mountains, the Creator of all things, sees purpose and direction and beauty in placing me in a specific intentional place…is incredible. Yet all too often, if it’s not comfortable, or easy, or something I feel like I need or want at that specific time, I find myself grumbling. Complaining. Honestly, I’m a little bit of a baby most of the time. And more often than I would care to admit to, I end up pretty pessimistic about the whole situation.
TRANSITION to what God is teaching me right now. Ha. He really knows what He is doing.
The past few weeks I have been meeting with a dear friend and mentor of mine, Karen. She has graciously agreed to walk with me through this season of preparing to leave on the Race, and has been a fantastic source of spiritual encouragement and insight. We are going through Matt Chandler’s book, “To live is Christ, to die is gain” (a study/guide/devo to Philippians) and so far, it has been AWESOME.
This week there was a particular phrase Matt Chandler uses to describe Paul and his perspective while in prison for the umpteenth time.
“Grace-fueled optimism”
Huh. I was left with 3 questions for myself after reading this.
#1 – Am I even optimistic?
#2 – If so, what fuels my optimism?
#3 – If not, what fuels my pessimism?
More often than I would like, I’m not optimistic, and frequently, my optimism isn’t fueled by the grace of Jesus. It’s fueled by my own desire for positivity, or positive feedback from others. *OUCH*
So this week, I have been praying for grace-fueled optimism. And you know what they say…be careful what you pray for, because God just might deliver you opportunities to use what you’re praying for. So heading into this week, with so much to be done before training camp, I am asking God for a heart of grace-fueled optimism. That I wouldn’t grumble about “not being at camp yet” and that my perspective would be one that points others back to Jesus in all circumstances, regardless of how unfavorable.
If you could join me in prayer for my squad, for training camp, for traveling mercies, and for God to show up and show off at camp this week, I would be incredibly grateful.
