Me?! Run a half-marathon? That’s a ridiculous idea!
Last year, two good friends suggested that I train with them. I laughed. I was not a runner – I was barely even in shape. The very thought was dreadful and brought back memories of being forced to run the infamous MILE in elementary school. How on earth could I even consider running 13.1? But God had something new in mind for me.
Over a year and two half-marathons later, I honestly love running. I did the unimaginable. I didn’t see that coming!
What haven’t you seen coming? What about your mission trip seemed unimaginable?
“Come teach these kids to do a craft at Kids Club.”
“Grab that paint brush and help me put on a second coat.”
“Stir these noodles, we’ve got 70 hungry people to feed!”
“Spend some time reading the Bible this morning.”
In the Bible, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Imagine doing something you never wanted to do, something you never thought you could do.
But sometimes, when you return to the same old place, same old friends, same old routine, it’s hard to imagine anything new. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but being surrounded by the old can make it hard to imagine that you could be and do more.
But think about it. If I had gone for one good run, then never run again, I could hardly call myself a runner. One experience doesn’t mean a changed life. But I kept running. Beyond that, I talked about running, I learned about running, I changed the way I ate and drank and slept so that I could be better at running.
What do you need to do?
Think about your YouthWorks week. What (or who) grabbed your attention or caught you by surprise? What new thing did you find yourself enjoying? What is something new that you discovered about yourself?
How can that discovery enter into your everyday life at home? Commit to a ministry at church, a service project at school or an organization in your community. Turn off your TV, computer or music for 15 minutes and read your Bible instead. Volunteer to wash dishes at home or offer to make dinner for your family one night. Grab a few friends and help an elderly person or a single mom with some projects around the house.
Doing a new thing – living as the new creation that Christ has made you – takes courage and some sacrifice. It might mean giving up some of your time and money and living differently than you did before, but that effort will be worth it. Just as Jesus promised his disciples after he washed their feet, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).
It’s your turn to imagine, to know, to do and to be blessed.
by Jenilyn Swett
