Original Entry:
January 5, 2009
McMinnville, OR
When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from
him in great fear. 1Samuel 17:24
In 2003 my mantra was
“opt for chopsticks”. This mantra had to do with doing things differently that
I had learned or practiced. As a physical reminder I ate with chopsticks at least
one meal a day. I never made it through the year. Little did I know that trying
something new would mean moving my family to Oregon six months later!
In 2009 my theme was
“finding failure” and failure I found as I attempted to snowboard! One morning
stands out when after making four flawless runs down Buttercup (the kiddy slope) Shanna convinced me to try the Cascade
Express lift to the top of the mountain.
I wasn’t ready for
what came next.
When we stood on top
of the world I sat down in fear staring at our run as I stuttered, “I am not
going down that!” The problem however
with the ski lifts is that they are a one way ticket! Thirty minutes later, thighs
on fire from butter sliding down the mountain, I finally made it to the bottom!
At one point two
little sisters in pink outfits and blonde pony tails bombed passed me
screaming, “Watch out for the big guy sitting down!”
At the bottom Shanna
encouraged, “You made it down he mountain.”
Though I failed at boarding down the mountain I succeeded at running at
the giant instead of away form him. What
are the giants in your life?
What career moves do
you need to make?
What leadership roles
in your church have you been running from?
What risk is calling
your name?
What mountain is
begging you to climb it?
Run at it!
