How did I get here? I'm super excited. Stoked. Amped. Yeah dude! WOO! World Race September 2012…one more time: WOO!
I guess it is finally sinking in and the butterflies in my tummy are coming and going at random causing me to erupt in sudden smirks, smiles and fits of laughter throughout my day.
But rewind. So how did I get here? This starting line. Where did I come from to even step into the starting gate?
This happiness is a refreshing well-spring after holding fast through what felt like a torrenteous sandstorm season of my life.
Listen, so far it seems I'm the oldest racer on the team we've got going so far. OK. That's cool. It also seems I'm not fresh out of college with a degree and I wasn't raised up in a church. OK. That's cool too. I'm also seeing that I'm missing a Colgate smile and super model status. OK. Gonna work through that. (And workout too!)
Obviously, I've been looking around: reading blogs, joined the FB group page, scoping the scene.
Insecurities get amplified and then I kick myself in the butt and ask: How did I get here?
Simple answer: By the grace of God.
So what if I'll be 31 in a couple of weeks? Awesome! PRAISE THE LORD. There were times in my life I thought I would kill myself before the age of 30. I had a deathwish. And while I'm running the World Race, I'll be blessed, Godwilling, with some amazing 32nd birthday celebration abroad. Awesome!
So what if I've got a G.E.D., some college experience and resigned from a seven year career I fell out of love with? I've climbed up ladders, fallen off ladders, and exhausted a bunch of elbowgrease since the age of 14. Hallelujah Jesus for His great provision of experience and work ethic and drive and most importantly, salvation. Because honestly being unemployed right now and falling on the grace of God's people when I could very well be in a homeless shelter, is a blessing. Yes.
It's a blessing to have God strip you of pride and everything you've ever built that wasn't on the Rock. Jesus Christ has taught me that after living on this earth 30 years, I was a woman who needed to get over herself.
Hard times. Brokeness. Season of storms. God's great faithfulness, tender mercy, triumphant glory and grace through my family and friends at Calvary Chapel Mountain View and beyond.
Prayer. Exhortation. Rebuke. Encouragement. My mother's support through a miraculous work of reconciliation.
Hope and love.
Yes, that's how I got here…because He first loved me (1 John 4:19) and I kept on loving Him too (Psalm 91:14.)
