27 of us, 20 from the squad; a lil “Run and tell that,” a lil “Same same, but different,” and a little “Redeeming lice, I mean light,” 5 Aussies and two Nepalese formed a straight line.
We formed an assembly line from the creek to the school, spread out along a straight incline. We passed rocks to each other. We passed one, two, three, and four. We passed big ones, small ones. We passed for 5 hours. As we passed we shared something we were thankful for.
We didn’t run out of things to be thankful for.
We should never run out of things to be thankful for.
We were thankful for Justin Warren and Patrice Deaton. Justin and Patrice guided our squad through the first 4 months of our race.
We were thankful for Wanda and Steve Dupree. Wanda and Steve are our squad parents, they come to each debrief, they fly across the world to sit in meetings for days and then go home. They read our blogs, they pray for us, they encourage us, they send us Facebook messages, and love us.
We were thankful for our parents and for each other’s parents. Living in community we learn each others parents names and it is very common for us to refer to each others parents by first name. For example I am very thankful for Kel and Tim.
We were thankful for Tim Fizzell. Tim works relentlessly in the office to coordinate our ministries and whereabouts around the world. Tim is not only responsible for K Squad, but F and N.
We were thankful for Bill Swan. Bill Swan coordinated us through training camp and he has become sort of a K squad legend. We are still hoping he will pop up on the field.
We were thankful for each other, for each other’s siblings, and for each other’s best friends.
We were thankful for not getting typhoid and malaria.
We were thankful for K-squad.
We were thankful for having community.
We were thankful for having friends and family worth going home too.
We were thankful for sports teams.
We were thankful for the Arakanese’s, because there are three of them and who wouldn’t be thankful for the Arakanese’s.
We were thankful for hard questions and hard responses.
We were thankful for the intimacy that comes from brokenness.
We were thankful for not having cracks in our foundations, thank you Jesus you are our cornerstone.
We were thankful for Facebook and staying connected.
We were thankful for coach.
We were thankful for laying the foundation that will bring higher education to the village.
We were thankful for lice treatment and for the Aussies gift of tea tree.
We were thankful for so many things that day…
We were thankful and with thankfulness brought great joy.
We all long for a thankful spirit, for an attitude of gratitude. Giving thanks brings deeper appreciation and intimacy with the lord.
I double dog dare you to spend 30 minutes, (set the timer) thanking the Lord for things and see how it changes your attitude, how it changes your mindset, how it sets you free.
