So after my World Race Training Camp, there were so many things I wanted to share about what happened. However, in my mind the most powerful and impactful lesson came from my experience on Tuesday of that week.
Now, for those of you who don’t know, I have type 1 diabetes, which is an auto-imune disease where my pancreas no longer produces insulin. Insulin is important because it converts sugar into energy. I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 8 years old and (unless a miracle occurs) I will have diabetes for the rest of my life. Speaking honestly, before Training Camp, my diabetes was my biggest worry about going on the World Race. Thankfully, that is no longer true.
On Tuesday morning, I woke up at 3:00 am, psychically sick with a high blood sugar. A normal blood sugar is 80-120 mg/dl, and my blood sugar was 456 mg/dl. My high blood sugar made my entire body hurt. I was also severely dehydrated. Consequently I immediately treated my high blood sugar, drank some water, and tried to go back to sleep.
Later Tuesday morning, I woke up again a 6:00 am. I felt even worse than when I first woke up. I couldn’t even get myself to check my blood sugar. I knew that it had to have gotten even higher. Now I usually try to keep myself to myself. Normally, if I were so sick, I wouldn’t tell anyone. BUT God had other plans. He allowed for me to be sick in such a way that it was impossible to keep it private.
Being so ill that morning forced me to do 3 things:
1. It made me humble. Please let the record show that no one enjoys being sick, especially in front of strangers you are trying to make a good impression on. I had to tell others that I was sick, and then I had to depend on the help of others.
2. It made me honest. Being such a private person, often times I’m more inclined to lie about how I feel than tell others what is really going on. Since I was so visibly sick, the truth was impossible to hide. The concept of city on a hill took on a whole new meaning for me that morning. Also, I had to be honest about my fears. When I told others about my fears, God provided me with affirmation that everything would be okay. He made it very clear that my diabetes was a nonissue with Him.
3. It made me trust. I guess I just wasn’t a trusting person. I had been hurt in the past by placing my trust in people too easily. However, that Tuesday morning God showed me that in true community people build others up. I was given so much love and support that morning that it was impossible to feel anything other than love and support.
I know that I am still a long way from being completely over these issues, but I also know that I made massive steps towards healing and recovery. That Tuesday morning, God gave me exactly what I needed. In the words of Frodo Baggins it was something that “Seemed foul but felt fair.”
What meaningful lessons is God trying to teach you? I would love to hear. Please post below.
