I have a confession to make. I can be very stubborn. I’m not
talking about minor resistance to change, but a stubbornness that borders on
stupidity. This may come as a surprise to many of you, although not to my
family and close friends – and certainly not to my wife. Even though this trait
is sometimes a good thing that keeps me from flip-flopping on opinions, there are times
when I don’t allow additional thoughts to enter into my decision making. And
when this stubbornness keeps me from hearing what God has to say to me, well,
that’s when I realize that I need to make some changes. 2014 highlighted one
such example for me.
At the beginning of the year Woodside decided to participate
in the Run for God bible study. This is a program that combines a bible study with
a running program designed to take you from the couch to a 5k run over a 12
week period. Now I’m not a runner – never have been. I used to run to get in
shape to play soccer, when I was younger (I won’t say young), and for softball
(as I matured), but I never ran as exercise or to experience the so-called “joy
of running”. Michelle has also never been a runner, probably less so than me. I
have to admit that we have made comments over the years about runners and their
obsession. So I automatically assumed that there would be no interest in the
Run for God program in the Burgess family. God had other plans.
I don’t remember when, or how, Michelle let me know of her
intentions to participate but I know I was surprised. Actually “shocked” would
be closer to the mark. Looking back on that moment I now realize that this was
a perfect moment for me to reflect and speak with God, but for whatever reason I
chose to make this decision on my own. I immediately used the Dan Schaal reflex
to something new: Nope. No way. Not going to happen! Even though this was a
church event I did not spend any time at all to consider the possibility of
participating. And to make it worse I didn’t give my full support to Michelle.
I did support her in some ways – changing or adjusting my schedule so that she
could attend the bible study and workout a few days a week, but I didn’t throw
in the moral support that I should have. I apologized for that later, but that
was well after the fact. Through the whole study I never really changed my opinion
of Run for God. It wasn’t until the race was done that I understood, and there
were three specific points that highlighted my mistake.
Race Day – I did agree to be a volunteer on the day of the
race. But even there I was a little annoyed that I had to be there at 5:30am to
help out. Oh I did what was asked of me, and did it to my full potential – but
my heart wasn’t in it. That began to change when I met the guys from Teen
Challenge who were running. A couple of months before, Maria Wilson had told
Michelle that there were a group of guys from a recovery home that were
interested in running. We found out that they were from Teen Challenge in Rehrersburg,
PA. This was one of those God wink moments because CLPRM, the ministry Michelle
and I are so involved with, had not only visited this recovery home, but we
currently had two men there on CLPRM scholarships. And yet their participation
in the run was not through the ministry but was result of looking for a way to
run as a group. Woodside, which has been such a blessing to the ministry, “just
happened” to be the venue that they found to be a part of. The six young men
who came to participate were such great examples of how the power of God can
change the lives of those struggling with addiction. Each of them had battled
with substance abuse and a couple of them had been in prison as a result. Their
growing relationship with Jesus has transformed them and changed their lives.
They were so helpful, respectful and appreciative of their new lives that it reinforced
to me the importance of what CLPRM does.
The Finish – A simple, yet powerful, moment came as I
watched Michelle cross the finish line. When she began the training I don’t
think she really thought she would be able to run the whole race. The joy on her
face as she crossed the finish line, running the entire 5k, was the first
indication to me that I had made a poor choice. She wanted to do something and
God had given her the help and the strength that she needed to do it.
After the Race – In the days following the run I reflected
on what I learned. Once again I realized that the choices we make are so much
clearer when we speak with God before making them. Over the last several years
I have done a better job of praying and speaking with my Father before making
decisions. But I also realize that there are still too many times that I act on
my own emotions without making the proper consultation. Maybe I’ll take the
bible study and run next year; maybe I won’t. But before I decide I’m going to
go to my Adviser and talk things over.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and
do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he
will make straight your path.
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