I so wanted to believe my commitment to traveling abroad for 11 months was all about changing the world and as a result I too would be changed in the process. But my recent training camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of TN gave me a whole new perspective on my part in the larger story of how God is using His people to redeem the world.
When asked my least favorite aspects of training camp, I’d have to say the bugs and spiders that so often found their way into my tent only to reveal themselves as I was finally settled cozy in my sleeping bag ready to call it a night. Their trespassing in my space resulted in, at minimum, 5 minutes of extermination in order for me to sleep soundly. Of course once I got over myself, I was able to identify this as an embarrassingly minor inconvenience compared to what most of the world battles emotionally and physically when desperately trying to get sleep at night. With this perspective I was able to embrace God’s creation, insects included, with the splendor of something we don’t have on the west coast – lightening bugs! When I finally opened my eyes and stopped worrying about the harmless insects I was sharing the camp with, God revealed what looked like a hillside of sparkling white Christmas lights but was actually thousands of lightening bugs. It was simply gorgeous. A teammate was even able to catch one for me and in awe I peacefully held him in my hand. Until that moment, I was so wrapped up in my own frustration that I was blind to the beauty of God’s unique creation right before my eyes.
Egg yolks have never been a favorite of mine, purely due to fear of extra calories and fat. But when it’s “budget day” at camp and your lunch consists of one hard boiled egg, a piece of white bread, and a spoonful of jelly you better believe I’m going to eat the yolk and savor every bite. Upon finishing this meal, no where near the size I feel I deserve but much more than most of the world eats in an entire day, I felt thoroughly satisfied.
My satisfaction came from having some fuel and from what I would consider a small victory in my constant battle with food, but mostly my satisfaction came from the emotional “fullness” I received from spending time with my teammates. When the endless options and focus on food was removed, meal time was about sharing with the people at my table through an activity called “3 minute testimonies”. Split into tables of 8, our squad of now 57 (two people decided to go home) opened up and slowly discovered how unique we all are but how our desire to love our Lord God with all our hearts, minds and souls is the daily bread that will fill us up and connect us forever – a realization more satisfying than any five star meal.
Although silly, these are just two of many examples of how God was already starting to change me. He so clearly showed me that He has LOTS of work to do in and through me to make me mature and complete, not lacking anything. Although I faced trials of many kinds at training camp, I consider it a pure joy to continue with perseverance on this race He has marked out for me!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” James 1: 2-4
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
