Impact
What kind of impact can you make in a person? Well it turns out, a lot. My life was impacted this past week through a men’s hike and training camp. We men met at AIM headquarters to begin building life-long friendships. We left the next day to adventure together on the Appalachian Trail. My friend Andrew became the inspiration on our squad. He wouldn’t mind me telling you that he has a heart condition and was struggling on the hills, but he wouldn’t quit. He kept persevering. No one forced him to continue, but he chose to conquer the mountain. He even let us share the load of his pack and together we all made it to our campsite. He is a great example of a man who has set his mind on a goal and will accomplish that goal no matter what, and more importantly is willing to ask for help when he needs it.
I wish I could say the same for myself. Later on in the week at training camp they had the men get together and complete a task that they didn’t fully explain until it was right in front of us. It started by picking up a piece of firewood and walking into the woods. We ended up at the edge of a lake. Our task was to get our piece of firewood over to the other side without getting it wet. Looking across the way I could tell that even without a piece of wood this would be a real challenge. I was one of the last of my squad to get in the water. This was because Andrew had asked me for help putting on his life jacket. It would have been nice if I had also swallowed my pride and taken a life jacket, but I’m an experienced swimmer and former life guard, how hard could this be? I soon learned that I had more pride in my heart than I realized. I spent nearly all my strength and was only about halfway before I asked one of the safety canoes to come over so I could rest on it for 5 seconds. Off again I realized I had no energy and was beginning to hyper ventilate. I’m floating on my back, kicking hard with my piece of firewood still barely in the air. I swallow some water and get a little disoriented. I get to rest on another canoe, ¾ of the way there, but I was fed up, I let my firewood slip into the water. At this point my friend Troy (who already fully completed the task) came back and asked to take my firewood. He didn’t know it was already waterlogged, but out of frustration I threw it in his direction and slowly meandered on my back toward the shore. I felt defeated. I felt exhausted. I felt like I had been breathing too hard. I learned that I like to be able to do things by myself and that it is tied to my perceived identity (how I think others perceive me). It’s part of my people pleasing that has no place in my heart anymore. I learned that I need to ask for help long before I think I do, and that like on the men’s hike, my brothers are happy to share the load with no judgment whatsoever.
In short, I’m thankful for the men of this squad for being mighty men. Men who care and sacrifice for the benefit of others. Men whose hearts, words, and actions reflect that of Christ. I’m honored to be a part of them this coming year as we serve alongside each other for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Wait, aren’t there women on the squad too? YES! And lots of amazing women at that! I was thankful to get to know them at training camp and also look forward to serving alongside them this coming year! 🙂
Out of the 50ish people on our squad I get the privilege to intentionally serve this group of eight gentle shepherds as a team leader.
We are Team Forerunners!
From left to right: Jamie Rae, Rachel Tart, Amanda Hall, Major, Matt, Katherine, myself, Debbie
I’m excited to see what happens next! Thank you so much for your support and prayers!!
