In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk--BETTER YET, RUN!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (MSG) [emphasis mine]
Ephesians 4:1-3 (MSG) [emphasis mine]
For those of you who know me in the real world, you know that I will not be taking our word of the year, RUN, literally! I am not a real runner like my husband is. I walk; I do piloxing; I hike. Even when I was younger running was never my thing—ask my high school basketball coach if you don’t believe me! But I love the word RUN when it's used more figuratively.
Earlier this year when I posted a blog on re-learning some lessons about having multiple classes after returning to teaching close to full time, a friend from our PRPC days commented that she had retired after 30 years of teaching. I replied that after taking 15 years off from full-time teaching I probably had more energy than she did for the job. Too often during those 15 years I felt as if I was “sitting around on my hands” or “strolling off on paths going nowhere.” After not working a “real job” for so long, a person’s confidence in what she has to offer the world sometimes plummets. I know mine did.
With our youngest son getting ready to graduate from college this spring I know my “mom” responsibilities will be entering a very different phase. I celebrate that our boys want to forge their own paths as adults and am determined to give them the space they need to learn and grow in their own ways. I am excited to see where their journeys take them. And I am excited to further explore some new paths of my own.
For me RUN means more fully investing in ministries and activities that will make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I have been using my skills at church a lot for the past several years, but I don't think I have been as effective at using my gifts. I preached about this in a message called “Hungry for Purpose” at the end of November (the video of the message, along with one containing the pre-message reflection questions, is posted below). In 2018 I'm determined to put into practice at least some of the things I have learned about faith, church development, my spiritual gifts, and scripture over the past several years. I feel excited to stop waiting, to stop pacing, to stop strolling, and to start running on the road God is calling me to travel.
Just as I tried not to leave JOY behind at the end of 2016, I will try not to leave BOLD behind just because 2017 is over. With God’s help I want to RUN with JOY and BOLDness in 2018.
Earlier this year when I posted a blog on re-learning some lessons about having multiple classes after returning to teaching close to full time, a friend from our PRPC days commented that she had retired after 30 years of teaching. I replied that after taking 15 years off from full-time teaching I probably had more energy than she did for the job. Too often during those 15 years I felt as if I was “sitting around on my hands” or “strolling off on paths going nowhere.” After not working a “real job” for so long, a person’s confidence in what she has to offer the world sometimes plummets. I know mine did.
With our youngest son getting ready to graduate from college this spring I know my “mom” responsibilities will be entering a very different phase. I celebrate that our boys want to forge their own paths as adults and am determined to give them the space they need to learn and grow in their own ways. I am excited to see where their journeys take them. And I am excited to further explore some new paths of my own.
For me RUN means more fully investing in ministries and activities that will make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I have been using my skills at church a lot for the past several years, but I don't think I have been as effective at using my gifts. I preached about this in a message called “Hungry for Purpose” at the end of November (the video of the message, along with one containing the pre-message reflection questions, is posted below). In 2018 I'm determined to put into practice at least some of the things I have learned about faith, church development, my spiritual gifts, and scripture over the past several years. I feel excited to stop waiting, to stop pacing, to stop strolling, and to start running on the road God is calling me to travel.
Just as I tried not to leave JOY behind at the end of 2016, I will try not to leave BOLD behind just because 2017 is over. With God’s help I want to RUN with JOY and BOLDness in 2018.