This weekend I fasted from Friday night to Sunday night. It was an impulse decision and I am so thankful I chose to do it. When you fast you intentionally deprive yourself of something to make space to press into something else. In this case I chose to fast from food to seek out what The Lord’s heart was for me for going on the race and to pray for funds to come in so I can launch with my squad. I slowly realized how a lot of things in my life revolve around food, sharing meals with friends, getting ice cream, the hardest for me… graduation party. In those times though, I noticed that I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I would be. It was easy to say no because I knew the outcome would be far more rewarding than the short-term satisfaction.
If you know me even a little bit, you may have noticed that I sometimes get hangry when I haven’t eaten in a while. I was a little nervous about working on Saturday because it was hot and heat and hunger don’t mix well, for anyone. I am happy to say that I probably had more fun working that day than I have had in a while. We had a fun group of people working and we played card games and my new favorite game, Jungle Speed. I like to play on the diving board when we aren’t busy, and I taught my supervisor’s son who is 7 how to do a front flip. Even when he smacked his back a few times, he would come up with two thumbs up and a huge smile on his face.
Church on Sunday was what got me, we had the chance to pray over all the students and people involved in teaching or administration in the school as we commission them to go back for a new year. I realized I wont be a part of their lives this year in the same way as I have been the last 4 years. It was a real realization that a new chapter in life is starting. The message that day felt like it was speaking directly towards me. How is the next generation going to live out their faith in a society that is changing? How are we going to impact the world in a world that says it’s all about me. We are to be bold in the way we live, not because it’s what our parents tell us to do (or anyone else), but because of the ways Jesus has moved in our lives. We are to take in the Word and be transformed because of the impact it has on our lives.
I may not have heard the answer as to why I am going on the race, but I know it’s where I am supposed to be. No matter how hard it is to say goodbye to someone, the reward for being obedient will far outweigh the pain of the goodbye. Maybe that’s all I really needed to hear this weekend. I don’t need all the answers, I will never have them, but I know the road ahead is far better than the one I leave behind. I was also reminded about being bold, and taking those steps outside of our comfort zones. My prayer has changed from “I pray for safety” to “I pray for boldness” because change comes when we step into the unknown.
The unknown for me right now, beyond just going on the race, is if I will be able to launch with my squad in September. I still have about $3,000 to raise in the next week to be able to leave with my squad. That is a lot of money if we were to look at it from a worldly perspective, but nothing is too much for the Big Guy to handle. If you feel like you are able to contribute financially and come along side me for a greater purpose, feel free to Click Here and follow the steps. Even Small sacrifices yield amazing rewards, and that is what I learned this week. God is faithful. He does provide.
Loves.
