The Wrong Choice

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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