300 Days of Emili Carmichael
I am glad that God, in a loving way, laughs at our insecurities.
He laughs because He knows the plan and can see the bigger picture.
He laughs because He knows that one day we will look back at certain moments and laugh as well as we begin to see that picture.
A little over a year ago I was in Georgia meeting my squad for the first time.
Feeling both lost and overwhelmed that week my mind was prime real estate for Satan's lies; & I quickly fell into the pit of comparison.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, comparison has been a huge heart issue for me in the past & is an area the Lord has been growing/healing me this year– training camp was the very beginning of that process.
Of the thirty-four women of Osquad (at the time) I compared myself the hardest against Emili.
She was prettier. More knowledgeable. Had packed way smarter. Made friends easier. Etc.
Two days into training I knew two things were going to happen: (1). I would be placed on an all ladies team (2). Emili Carmichael would be one of those ladies.
Sure enough when the seven teams of Osquad were announced that Thursday both of my predictions proved to be true. And as I stood amongst my newly formed team I chuckled to myself.
On our final day of training camp each of the newly formed teams had their first go rounds of feedback. Well let me tell you nothing is quite as awkward as sitting across from strangers trying to "speak life" into their lives when you know absolutely nothing about them…. Unless you're sitting across from a stranger & spilling your insecurities out to them.
Emili had asked the team how we perceived her & when my turn came around to answer I nervously began to reveal my insecurities one by one to her and the group. In six days I had managed to compile quite a list.
However, that five minute conversation allowed me to rip that list up completely.
And start over with a fresh beginning.
November 3rd: Day 300 of the Race.
& low and behold I have been with Emili Carmichael each and EVERY one of those days.
And she is the only person on Osquad that I can say that about.
If you had told me a year ago that Carmichael would become one of my closest [ friends ] on my squad I would really wouldn't have believed you. But over these past several months Carmichael has truly become one of my best friends.
Carmichael has taught me about generosity, selflessness, and how seeking after God's will.
She has been an example of both discipline and love.
She has been one of the greatest sources of encouragement & is willing to listen.
She is someone I know I can go to for just about anything because she has shown herself to be trustworthy as well as a woman who genuinely cares about those around her.
Carmichael is a dependable woman of her word.
A joyful and hard worker.
A woman of strong faith.
She is a friend that I can act completely ridiculous with.
A friend that I can drink unhealthy amounts of coffee with as we watch New Girl.
A friend I can sit with in a park in Bulgaria as we try to make ourselves cry.
(True story)
Someone I can play endless rounds of banangrams with.
Someone who enjoys photography & journaling parties.
Someone I can get embarrassingly excited with upon discovering cake icing in El Salvador.
A friend who talks in random accents.
A friend who makes sure your golden birthday is truly golden.
Someone that I can debrief my debrief experiences with.
We have survived the Nile.
Climbed the Great Wall.
& LOVE the GREAT state of TEXAS
Oh, & we enjoy walking.
[ I am thankful for Emili Carmichael. ]
Glad she has become such a wonderful friend.
Thankful for the ways God works and places people in our lives.
Carmichael, You are a lovely, strong woman of the Lord.
Continue pressing in & trusting him during this last month of our race!
Love, Hair(storm)
