I have always been inquisitive; I don't remember much from toddlerhood, but I am sure I asked the question "why?" quite often. I've always wanted to know not only the answer, but why it is true. For instance, I think how instruments make sound is fascinating. I'm also a hands-on learner; I want to feel, touch and explore things to learn about them.
The problem with this is that not everything can be understood in this way. In fact, sometimes the question "why?" has no answer. Or, it's an answer we simply can't comprehend. Right now I am dealing with some health issues; the most frustrating part is that every test comes back "normal", "negative", or "unremarkable." But I still have pain. I know many people with worse problems, who still have no answer. The question is, "What do we do?"
The correct answer, of course, is to turn to God---but we don't just turn to Him and yell for help. We need to turn to His Word and re-learn the truth it contains. I'm really not much of a crier---I seldom cry at movies or other emotional times, but I have for the past month. Part of it was changes in medication---but a lot of it has been giving God my emotions and focusing on HisTruth. I'm reading a book now by Sheila Walsh called "The Storm Inside," and it's about this very thing---giving our emotions to God and applying His Word to our lives. I think as women we do let emotions overtake us, and it's been a real encouragement to me.
I guess the bottom line when we don't have an answer to the question why is because we don't need to know the answer right now; we just need to trust God's promises and watch Him work for His glory.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
Disappointment--and Happiness
I just read a book about dealing with disappointment. We all experience it--although, I think our society sometimes glamorizes things so much that we think experiencing disappointment means there is something wrong with us. But if we think about it, disappointment is a part of life, because none of us is perfect--and therefore, we all have the capacity to disappoint each other. It is initially devastating, however--especially if you have not experienced a significant disappointment. I remember the first time I was truly, absolutely disappointed in someone; it took me several days to get over it--and longer than that not to think about the disappointment with a mixture of anger and sadness. Most of the time, we are at fault with disappointment--someone didn't do something we expected them to do. We often have unrealistic expectations of others, and then are disappointed when they don't meet them. I remember being newly married--it was wonderful, but at the same time I learned very quickly that it was not what I expected. My husband will tell you the same thing. Thankfully, we had taken a class about different personalities, so we knew that our actions toward each other were not a deliberate attempt to make the other feel bad or disappointed, but simply the result of us responding with our strengths. We, like most couples are quite different--but we have learned (and are still learning) to accept and celebrate our differences.
I also think part of the reason we get disappointed is our concept of happiness. I received "Despicable Me 2" as a Christmas present. I love the music in this movie--especially this song, called, appropriately "Happy:"
I also think part of the reason we get disappointed is our concept of happiness. I received "Despicable Me 2" as a Christmas present. I love the music in this movie--especially this song, called, appropriately "Happy:"
Gru in this video is uncharacteristically happy--because he's "in love." But all too soon, Gru's happiness is dashed--the gal he loves is being reassigned to Australia. One of the more poignant parts of the movie is Gru going back through all of these locations--with a completely different reaction to the same people. Happiness is great for the moment, but rarely lasts. We are miserable, in fact, if we try to base our life on being happy. That's why the Bible talks about joy; joy is knowing God is in control--no matter what is happening in our circumstances. Philippians Chapter 2 talks about how Christ was able to endure the cross--it was for the joy set before him. He wasn't joyful about what was going to happen to him on the cross--but about God's plan being fulfilled. Now, don't get me wrong--I like being happy and love making others happy; but it's a fleeting emotion, not a building brick for life.
Life has ups and downs--but we don't have to go up and down with each circumstance. I'm so grateful that God is sovereign and merciful. I know that I disappoint Him often, but that His mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness is great--and He will never disappoint.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
You Are More Than Your Past
I saw "Saving Mr. Banks" yesterday with my youngest son. If you haven't seen it--you should. It has everything you want in a good movie--great performances, sets, costumes and backgrounds, good music and an interesting story. I was particularly interested in this film because Mary Poppins was the first movie I saw in the theater; I even got a Mary Poppins doll for Christmas one year, when I was about five years old. I've always loved Mary Poppins--I especially wanted her ability to snap her fingers and make things put themselves away when I was younger!
The most interesting thing about this film is the depiction of how the past influences the present. Both Walt Disney and P.L. Travers had issues with their family or origin--and both were influenced by them. This is an especially powerful film about the influence of fathers on their families--hence the title of the film. I always have liked what they call in English class dynamic characters--people, who in the course of a book, or a film, change for the better. This is best illustrated in Mr. Banks in the Mary Poppins movie--he rightly changes his focus to be on his family and children, and, in the end, it also improves his career. In "Saving Mr. Banks", the turning point in the author's acceptance of the film is this song--it's also the turning point of the film.
I think every dad should see the movie--it's a sobering reminder that we all influence our families--for the good, and in ways that aren't as positive--every day. As a teacher, I can tell you that I see the influences--positive and negative--every day in the classroom. The next time you think you aren't making headway with your kids, or that you aren't important, remember this song.
"Saving Mr. Banks" is full of dynamic characters--including Walt Disney and the author P.L. Travers. One conversation of the movie stuck with me--Walt Disney was telling Mrs. Travers about delivering newspapers in Kansas City when he was eight years old. He painted a bleak picture--cold, tired, wet, and, in general a most difficult circumstance. But then he said he wanted to remember something different--that what he had learned from reading the Mary Poppins books was forgiveness, and the ability to make hard things into something beautiful.
This is exactly what Christ offers us--the ability to trade beauty for ashes. Through his forgiveness of us, we can forgive ourselves and our origins. He then can take all of our hard circumstances--the pain, the disappointment, the heartache, and turn it into something good. He can use these things so that we can help others, so that we can further His kingdom---He really does make everything beautiful in its time. But we have to let Him do that. Many times, we, like Emma Thompson's character in "Saving Mr. Banks," we hold on to our hurt, and with it we hurt others. We refuse to let go and let it turn into something beautiful--and we are the ones who suffer. So the question today is--what will you do with your past? What will I do with mine? Do we hold onto it, and let it poison our relationships--or do we give it to Christ and let him use it for something beautiful? Giving it to Him, I've found, is a gradual process--and something we have to do daily. It's a struggle, much like the struggle in the film--but the end result is worth it.
The most interesting thing about this film is the depiction of how the past influences the present. Both Walt Disney and P.L. Travers had issues with their family or origin--and both were influenced by them. This is an especially powerful film about the influence of fathers on their families--hence the title of the film. I always have liked what they call in English class dynamic characters--people, who in the course of a book, or a film, change for the better. This is best illustrated in Mr. Banks in the Mary Poppins movie--he rightly changes his focus to be on his family and children, and, in the end, it also improves his career. In "Saving Mr. Banks", the turning point in the author's acceptance of the film is this song--it's also the turning point of the film.
"Saving Mr. Banks" is full of dynamic characters--including Walt Disney and the author P.L. Travers. One conversation of the movie stuck with me--Walt Disney was telling Mrs. Travers about delivering newspapers in Kansas City when he was eight years old. He painted a bleak picture--cold, tired, wet, and, in general a most difficult circumstance. But then he said he wanted to remember something different--that what he had learned from reading the Mary Poppins books was forgiveness, and the ability to make hard things into something beautiful.
This is exactly what Christ offers us--the ability to trade beauty for ashes. Through his forgiveness of us, we can forgive ourselves and our origins. He then can take all of our hard circumstances--the pain, the disappointment, the heartache, and turn it into something good. He can use these things so that we can help others, so that we can further His kingdom---He really does make everything beautiful in its time. But we have to let Him do that. Many times, we, like Emma Thompson's character in "Saving Mr. Banks," we hold on to our hurt, and with it we hurt others. We refuse to let go and let it turn into something beautiful--and we are the ones who suffer. So the question today is--what will you do with your past? What will I do with mine? Do we hold onto it, and let it poison our relationships--or do we give it to Christ and let him use it for something beautiful? Giving it to Him, I've found, is a gradual process--and something we have to do daily. It's a struggle, much like the struggle in the film--but the end result is worth it.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
A Tale of Christmas Stress
It's four days until Christmas---and I imagine many of you are stressed right now. Join the club! I was reflecting on the causes of stress at this particular time of year--and, with apologies to Dickens, I think there are three causes of the Scrooge known as Christmas Stress:
1.The Ghost of Christmas Past---We often glamorize our memories of Christmas, forgetting the bad and making the good things almost ideal. Maybe your mother was like mine--presents were always perfectly wrapped under the tree. We made sugar cookies, and she made fudge--and, fruitcake (which, to her dismay I never liked. The cookies and fudge more than made up for it, though!). We all have family traditions around the holidays. Now, I'm not against traditions, baked goods or wrapped presents; but sometimes all of these lovely things add stress at the holidays. Christmas will still come if my presents are in bags, I buy cookies from the store, and not all of the decorations get up. These things are great--but the past has a way of interfering with the present at times. I have learned that you just have to make this particular Christmas the best one it can be--and let go of the past. For some of you, Christmas may bring painful memories. Or, you may have lost a loved one. We often forget that Christmas is a sad time for many people. Let's resolve to deal with the pain--but still celebrate what Christmas really is--the birth of the Savior of the world, God coming to be with us in human form.
2. The Ghost of Christmas Present--One of my favorite articles is about the "Tyranny of the Urgent." The basic premise of this article is that what is urgent often crowds out what is important. This is so true at Christmas. Presents need to be wrapped, food needs to be made, shopping needs to be done, the house needs to be cleaned, and a whole other long list of things that are very urgent. After all, Christmas is in 4 days! But all of these urgent things take away time for us to reflect on what it means for God to have taken human form--helpless, poor and not heard from for 30 years--and then to die a horrible death so that we could be with Him. It takes time from us considering the word "Advent;" literally, "coming," focusing on Christ's first coming to earth, and His return again to reign. This ghost is particularly prone to making us cranky, impatient and ill-tempered, if we let it. Let's remember the true Gift of Christmas--and give our worries to the one who came as a baby so we could live.
3. The Ghost of the Future---It's so easy to get caught up in the materialism of our society during the holidays. I was in a store today that had SO many cool things; just the wrong place for impulse shopping. We tend to keep buying stuff--and forget that we will have to pay for it in the future. We forget to make times special with our kids when they are little, because they aren't little for long, and are grown in the blink of an eye, it seems. We forget to appreciate our parents while they are still young enough to do things with our kids--until they are too old or senile or ill to do so. We need to have an eye on the future as we celebrate, because Jesus is coming again. That is the best gift ever!
I'll admit that it's been a pretty Scrooge-filled day---but I'm trying to banish these ghosts and enjoy what has always been my favorite time of year. I hope you are as well. As Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol: "God bless us, everyone!" Here's a clip from one of my favorite adaptations of the story--from the Muppets:
1.The Ghost of Christmas Past---We often glamorize our memories of Christmas, forgetting the bad and making the good things almost ideal. Maybe your mother was like mine--presents were always perfectly wrapped under the tree. We made sugar cookies, and she made fudge--and, fruitcake (which, to her dismay I never liked. The cookies and fudge more than made up for it, though!). We all have family traditions around the holidays. Now, I'm not against traditions, baked goods or wrapped presents; but sometimes all of these lovely things add stress at the holidays. Christmas will still come if my presents are in bags, I buy cookies from the store, and not all of the decorations get up. These things are great--but the past has a way of interfering with the present at times. I have learned that you just have to make this particular Christmas the best one it can be--and let go of the past. For some of you, Christmas may bring painful memories. Or, you may have lost a loved one. We often forget that Christmas is a sad time for many people. Let's resolve to deal with the pain--but still celebrate what Christmas really is--the birth of the Savior of the world, God coming to be with us in human form.
2. The Ghost of Christmas Present--One of my favorite articles is about the "Tyranny of the Urgent." The basic premise of this article is that what is urgent often crowds out what is important. This is so true at Christmas. Presents need to be wrapped, food needs to be made, shopping needs to be done, the house needs to be cleaned, and a whole other long list of things that are very urgent. After all, Christmas is in 4 days! But all of these urgent things take away time for us to reflect on what it means for God to have taken human form--helpless, poor and not heard from for 30 years--and then to die a horrible death so that we could be with Him. It takes time from us considering the word "Advent;" literally, "coming," focusing on Christ's first coming to earth, and His return again to reign. This ghost is particularly prone to making us cranky, impatient and ill-tempered, if we let it. Let's remember the true Gift of Christmas--and give our worries to the one who came as a baby so we could live.
3. The Ghost of the Future---It's so easy to get caught up in the materialism of our society during the holidays. I was in a store today that had SO many cool things; just the wrong place for impulse shopping. We tend to keep buying stuff--and forget that we will have to pay for it in the future. We forget to make times special with our kids when they are little, because they aren't little for long, and are grown in the blink of an eye, it seems. We forget to appreciate our parents while they are still young enough to do things with our kids--until they are too old or senile or ill to do so. We need to have an eye on the future as we celebrate, because Jesus is coming again. That is the best gift ever!
I'll admit that it's been a pretty Scrooge-filled day---but I'm trying to banish these ghosts and enjoy what has always been my favorite time of year. I hope you are as well. As Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol: "God bless us, everyone!" Here's a clip from one of my favorite adaptations of the story--from the Muppets:
Friday, December 20, 2013
True Love Melts a Frozen Heart
I felt good enough to go to a movie today with my 17-year-old son. He'd already seen the Hobbit movie (I passed on that one because of the big spiders in the preview---yuck!), came home and got me, and we went to see Disney's "Frozen."
I loved the movie---it's an instant classic, with beautiful music, incredible animation and lovable characters. It harkens back to movies like Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and so many others. But what I really loved is that this movie demonstrated what true love is---and what it is not. This movie did not have true love end with a kiss, but with a sacrifice; not with Prince Charming but a loving sister.
I really think we as a society need to understand what true love is. It's not "happily ever after," but hard work, sacrifice, and putting others first. It's not "love at first sight," as the movie shows, but commitment. It's best seen in what Christ did for us on the cross---and the little things we do for each other every day. Like my son taking his mom to a movie, my husband fixing dinner, or giving someone a warm hug.
For a season that's supposed to be all about giving, we---I----often lose sight of this. It's so easy to get so wrapped up in our own problems that we, like Elsa in the movie, shut others out. Let's not forget the power of God's love---true love----and use it to melt our own hearts first, and then those of others.
Speaking of melting your heart, here is the snowman Olaf---singing about summer. Enjoy! :)
Warm hugs to all, and a Merry Christmas!
I loved the movie---it's an instant classic, with beautiful music, incredible animation and lovable characters. It harkens back to movies like Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and so many others. But what I really loved is that this movie demonstrated what true love is---and what it is not. This movie did not have true love end with a kiss, but with a sacrifice; not with Prince Charming but a loving sister.
I really think we as a society need to understand what true love is. It's not "happily ever after," but hard work, sacrifice, and putting others first. It's not "love at first sight," as the movie shows, but commitment. It's best seen in what Christ did for us on the cross---and the little things we do for each other every day. Like my son taking his mom to a movie, my husband fixing dinner, or giving someone a warm hug.
For a season that's supposed to be all about giving, we---I----often lose sight of this. It's so easy to get so wrapped up in our own problems that we, like Elsa in the movie, shut others out. Let's not forget the power of God's love---true love----and use it to melt our own hearts first, and then those of others.
Speaking of melting your heart, here is the snowman Olaf---singing about summer. Enjoy! :)
Warm hugs to all, and a Merry Christmas!
Things I've Learned While Being Sick
I have been sick for the past two weeks, missing an uncharacteristic 7 out of 9 days of work. This, of course is at a time of year that is extremely busy for music teachers--the two days I was at work were in preparation for a trip to Crown Center with my choir, for instance. I've had a chance to reflect on some things I've learned during this time--or, in some cases, re-learned.
1. I have the best husband in the world. He cooks, cleans and works overtime--and makes everything run efficiently, even when I can't help him. He's amazing!
2. I have wonderful boys--they show concern and love for me and are such a great help.
3. There is nothing good on TV during the day. Thank goodness for DVD players and movies! :)
4. Online shopping is awesome. Seriously; we wouldn't have Christmas this year without it.
5. Technology connects us in the world--even when we can't leave our home. Facebook and Twitter have kept me in the loop with my friends and family; I'm so grateful for that. It's hard for an outgoing person to be home all day, but social media helps! :)
6. Pinterest is amazing; let's just say that missing that many days with a sub is challenging. But I found some great ideas on Pinterest, which was most helpful.
7. YouTube is another amazing thing--I found some great videos for the classroom as well, including some holiday tunes by a super group called Pentatonix. Check them out! A capella with beat boxing and drums=a great sound. Here is their video of "Carol of the Bells:"
8. You have to let go of things that are not in your control. I missed the Holiday Sing at my school--the first time in 11 years. It's one of my favorite events, but I wasn't up to it.
9. God is in control. I knew that--but it's always a good reminder. He has a plan and wants the best for me. I can trust Him because of that.
10. My planning is useful--but the unexpected happens. You have to be flexible enough to deal with changes in the plans you make, while trying to prepare for what's ahead. It's a delicate and difficult balance. I think God sometimes throws a monkey wrench in our plans so we learn to trust Him.
A song that has spoken to me a lot in the past few weeks is this one by Mandisa:
1. I have the best husband in the world. He cooks, cleans and works overtime--and makes everything run efficiently, even when I can't help him. He's amazing!
2. I have wonderful boys--they show concern and love for me and are such a great help.
3. There is nothing good on TV during the day. Thank goodness for DVD players and movies! :)
4. Online shopping is awesome. Seriously; we wouldn't have Christmas this year without it.
5. Technology connects us in the world--even when we can't leave our home. Facebook and Twitter have kept me in the loop with my friends and family; I'm so grateful for that. It's hard for an outgoing person to be home all day, but social media helps! :)
6. Pinterest is amazing; let's just say that missing that many days with a sub is challenging. But I found some great ideas on Pinterest, which was most helpful.
7. YouTube is another amazing thing--I found some great videos for the classroom as well, including some holiday tunes by a super group called Pentatonix. Check them out! A capella with beat boxing and drums=a great sound. Here is their video of "Carol of the Bells:"
8. You have to let go of things that are not in your control. I missed the Holiday Sing at my school--the first time in 11 years. It's one of my favorite events, but I wasn't up to it.
9. God is in control. I knew that--but it's always a good reminder. He has a plan and wants the best for me. I can trust Him because of that.
10. My planning is useful--but the unexpected happens. You have to be flexible enough to deal with changes in the plans you make, while trying to prepare for what's ahead. It's a delicate and difficult balance. I think God sometimes throws a monkey wrench in our plans so we learn to trust Him.
A song that has spoken to me a lot in the past few weeks is this one by Mandisa:
I want to be an Overcomer--don't you? In fact, that's the most important thing I've learned--God gives us the ability to overcome trials. I'm so grateful for that today!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
A Cross-Country Adventure
On this absolutely gorgeous fall day I set out for an adventure about 10:15 this morning. My youngest son runs Cross Country, and his league meet was at Rim Rock Farms--KU's Cross Country course, north of Lawrence. Armed with Google Maps and Google Navigation, I headed out. I opted to find a route that avoided the toll roads, and soon I was driving in the country. There's something about driving on a road in the country that I find very relaxing and rejuvenating; I think part of it is that I'm a city girl. My whole life I've lived in the city, either in a more urban or suburban setting. I absolutely love the city, but I find a country drive to be relaxing for several reasons. First, there's the view. One of the worst things about city living is that your perspective is always so small--you just can't see very far, because trees, houses and buildings block your view. But the vistas in the country are quite another thing. The Cross Country course I went to today is about an hour from my house, and soon I could see for miles out in the open country. For those of you not from Kansas, you might suppose I saw flat wasteland everywhere--but that's not what I saw. I saw farmland--fields of corn (mostly dried up, by the way) and other grains, which my dad, who worked for a grain country could tell you what they were. And framing all those lovely fields were trees--lovely deciduous trees with leaves of green and gold, with splashes of red every once in awhile. I don't think we are at the peak of our fall color, but the trees framed the fields and the color painted the rolling hills like a patchwork quilt. I think one thing I like about driving in the country is the road itself--you can actually see the scenery, because, as Sally says in the movie Cars, the road bends with what's around it. It's like you are a part of the scenery, not simply hurrying past it.
I drove through a very quaint small town--with some storefronts that I'm sure were over a hundred years old. I've always loved small towns, because both sets of my grandparents were from small towns. There's such pride in a little town--everything seems to be done with extra care, and all those little touches are so endearing to me as I pass by. I especially love driving through the business section of a small town--when I was about 12, I could walk to town when I visited my dad's mother. It was such a thrill, for that freedom did not exist in the city, and I especially loved the dime store (Ben Franklin), which had all sorts of interesting things to look at. I know that not all small towns are as quaint and special, but I thought of my grandparents and happy memories as I drove through this little town on my adventure.
The adventure was ahead of me, in terms of driving. To get to Rim Rock Fields, you have to go off the paved road, and on to a dirt road, for about four miles. Now, mind you, I was driving my PT Cruiser. It's a great little car, but really not designed for off-roading adventures. There was at least one hill that I was concerned about my little car scaling, but it puttered along perfectly. (It does really well in the snow, too.) I finally arrived at the course site, and, like we parents of Cross Country runners usually do, I created my own parking spot in the grass. (By now, I'm thinking my PT Cruiser should have SUV status). I parked, and headed off to watch the race.
If I were a runner (which, thanks to asthma, allergies, and lack of athleticism, I am not), I would have called today a perfect day for running. It was a bit on the cool side, but the sun was shining, and I was perfectly warm in my hoodie I bought from the Cross Country spirit wear sales. If you've never seen a Cross Country race at the start, it's not like any other race. There are about 150-200 runners in each race, and they all line up at the starting line at once. When the race starts, the whole pack sets off. It really is a sight to see. You just hope no one falls down at the beginning, because those spikes they wear are really sharp! By the end of the race, the racers are more in a line, like a traditional race. The best part of watching a Cross Country race (besides cheering for your son) is that everyone cheers for all the runners--even the slowest one at the end gets a cheer, because everyone knows how hard it is to run 3.1 miles--or a 5K. Runners don't just celebrate winning the race, they celebrate their PRs (personal records). My son beat his PR by a minute and 15 seconds! It's so great that in this world that is so competitive that we can celebrate personal achievements, even if they don't translate into a shiny medal. :) I must say that my son was easy to spot; he purchased neon orange spikes to race in, and had on a grey headband. I was really grateful, as the uniforms they wear make it really hard to pick out one runner from the 70 on his team.
As I drove home, I reflected on my adventure. First of all, I thought about how the Bible compares life to a race. Not all of the courses my son runs on are as nice as Rim Rock--some have holes and other pitfalls, and sometimes the weather is not as nice. Sometimes he's run and tweaked his ankle--or some other part of his body. The key, of course, is to endure. I'm at a point where I need that in my life, too. I also thought a lot about the GPS and Google Navigation on my phone; they are such a blessing to me, because I absolutely cannot read a map. It made me think about how I need the Holy Spirit's guidance. Much like the voice on Google Navigation, the Holy Spirit says calmly to turn certain ways. And the cool thing is that is works even if I take a detour; when I first set out this morning, my GPS said to turn left. I, however, knew the roads better, so I turned right. The GPS re-calibrated and then went on to give me directions. The Holy Spirit does this as well--but it never needs to recalibrate! I have made some wrong turns in my life, but God has always been there, guiding, whispering (sometimes hitting me over the head with a two-by-four), and getting me back on track. Sometimes it's hard to listen, though--the noise in my car can easily drown out my GPS, and sometimes the busyness of life drowns out God's words to me as well. And, sometimes, I'm like my son after the race; Evan was so tired after his race that he fell asleep on the way home. I get so tired sometimes that it gets really hard to hear what God has to say, too. But God still gets me home, in spite of my shortcomings, and lets me have an adventure besides! How cool is that?
I drove through a very quaint small town--with some storefronts that I'm sure were over a hundred years old. I've always loved small towns, because both sets of my grandparents were from small towns. There's such pride in a little town--everything seems to be done with extra care, and all those little touches are so endearing to me as I pass by. I especially love driving through the business section of a small town--when I was about 12, I could walk to town when I visited my dad's mother. It was such a thrill, for that freedom did not exist in the city, and I especially loved the dime store (Ben Franklin), which had all sorts of interesting things to look at. I know that not all small towns are as quaint and special, but I thought of my grandparents and happy memories as I drove through this little town on my adventure.
The adventure was ahead of me, in terms of driving. To get to Rim Rock Fields, you have to go off the paved road, and on to a dirt road, for about four miles. Now, mind you, I was driving my PT Cruiser. It's a great little car, but really not designed for off-roading adventures. There was at least one hill that I was concerned about my little car scaling, but it puttered along perfectly. (It does really well in the snow, too.) I finally arrived at the course site, and, like we parents of Cross Country runners usually do, I created my own parking spot in the grass. (By now, I'm thinking my PT Cruiser should have SUV status). I parked, and headed off to watch the race.
If I were a runner (which, thanks to asthma, allergies, and lack of athleticism, I am not), I would have called today a perfect day for running. It was a bit on the cool side, but the sun was shining, and I was perfectly warm in my hoodie I bought from the Cross Country spirit wear sales. If you've never seen a Cross Country race at the start, it's not like any other race. There are about 150-200 runners in each race, and they all line up at the starting line at once. When the race starts, the whole pack sets off. It really is a sight to see. You just hope no one falls down at the beginning, because those spikes they wear are really sharp! By the end of the race, the racers are more in a line, like a traditional race. The best part of watching a Cross Country race (besides cheering for your son) is that everyone cheers for all the runners--even the slowest one at the end gets a cheer, because everyone knows how hard it is to run 3.1 miles--or a 5K. Runners don't just celebrate winning the race, they celebrate their PRs (personal records). My son beat his PR by a minute and 15 seconds! It's so great that in this world that is so competitive that we can celebrate personal achievements, even if they don't translate into a shiny medal. :) I must say that my son was easy to spot; he purchased neon orange spikes to race in, and had on a grey headband. I was really grateful, as the uniforms they wear make it really hard to pick out one runner from the 70 on his team.
As I drove home, I reflected on my adventure. First of all, I thought about how the Bible compares life to a race. Not all of the courses my son runs on are as nice as Rim Rock--some have holes and other pitfalls, and sometimes the weather is not as nice. Sometimes he's run and tweaked his ankle--or some other part of his body. The key, of course, is to endure. I'm at a point where I need that in my life, too. I also thought a lot about the GPS and Google Navigation on my phone; they are such a blessing to me, because I absolutely cannot read a map. It made me think about how I need the Holy Spirit's guidance. Much like the voice on Google Navigation, the Holy Spirit says calmly to turn certain ways. And the cool thing is that is works even if I take a detour; when I first set out this morning, my GPS said to turn left. I, however, knew the roads better, so I turned right. The GPS re-calibrated and then went on to give me directions. The Holy Spirit does this as well--but it never needs to recalibrate! I have made some wrong turns in my life, but God has always been there, guiding, whispering (sometimes hitting me over the head with a two-by-four), and getting me back on track. Sometimes it's hard to listen, though--the noise in my car can easily drown out my GPS, and sometimes the busyness of life drowns out God's words to me as well. And, sometimes, I'm like my son after the race; Evan was so tired after his race that he fell asleep on the way home. I get so tired sometimes that it gets really hard to hear what God has to say, too. But God still gets me home, in spite of my shortcomings, and lets me have an adventure besides! How cool is that?
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