Starting lines are fun. They come in all shapes and sizes: from the actual starting line of a race to the cessation of a season leading into something new; like a graduation or a wedding or retirement. When I ran the Columbus marathon, it started early on a fall morning (so runners came to the start line all bundled up). Right before the gun went off, people started to throw off their outer layers of clothing and left them there on the street to be collected and donated to charity.
Recently we finished up fundraising, which is awesome! We can’t forget my fellow racers who are still toiling on that journey (God will provide!). Fundraising is now only a starting line for something else—we can’t linger here.
So what happens next?
We dive deeper, together. We start to shed those outer layers of stuff, of protection—we give them away—and we press on, less hindered, for the race ahead. I’ve been praying about the theme of this blog and how God might use it to minister to you. I believe the path before me, one that I wish to share with you, is that of a disciple. Here is an outline of what I mean:
‘Our Race Strategy’:
- The Foundation: Love the Lord your God.
- Seeking to live Righteously: Obedience.
- Doing the right thing even when you don’t want to: Discipline.
- The cost, the struggle: Trials and Suffering.
- The Fruit: A Deeper Connection and Growth with Christ and those who we are with; Love.
This is what I think our journey looks like in a nutshell. I hope that my future blogs will connect back to this. As always, this is a journey of growth, and engagement—I want to share where I am, even though it may change.
In closing, I hope you’ll hang on and venture with me in the days to come. We’ve got great stuff to discuss and unpack before the next starting line this May: Training Camp. Let me know what you think!
Be blessed, Friends.
