This is how it was for our Thursday Events team yesterday. Temperatures climbed into triple digets, but still we pushed on. We started our day like any other typical Thursday at the Wooster Towers at 10:30 and didn't admit defeat until 4:00 when the pounding of the sun's rays finally became too much for everyone. During our last stop, Joseph (played by my brother for the Bible story) was so exhausted he stood, rather weakly, amidst all the kids that had just collapsed at his feet, scattered around, for the story. The prison and Pharoah's throne room were a foot apart since everyone opted for minimal movement. Poor guys. We couldn't even get a palm tree and some sand out of the deal.
Part of me was getting discouraged when we showed up at Rebecca St a little before 4:00 and our feet were definitely starting to drag. Not many kids were home, and those that were were rather unwilling to brave the sweltering heat. Especially since there's essentially no shade in that area, unlike the Towers and Perkins. But I rested in the fact that Friday would come, and we would get another shot.
However, I walked out the door this morning only to see that rain was pouring down in torrents. Lovely. I almost stopped right there and cried. Too much rain is our natural enemy at SHM. It prevents our activities from happening. So while our plans are yet pending, God gave me a little flick in the ear. "Hey. Cut it out."
I had become so afraid of failure. The bulk of this ministry is currently in my hands. Jacob is off at camp with one of the boys, and I'm left to run the busiest, most chaotic (yet I do think the most fun!) days of the week: Thursday and Friday. Thursday ended in a flop and Friday is already looking like a very possible cancelation. I so desperately wanted to prove (to who, I'm not sure) that I can indeed do this on my own. Yet, discouragement almost to the point of defeat, was my only companion as I stood outside, watching the rain tumble to the pavement from the front porch.
But as I quickly threw my belongings into the passenger seat of my car, fumbling to shut the driver's door behind me, God kinda draped His arm across my shoulders and said "Stop trying to control this. Believe it or not, I still know what's best." Everything will turn out all right.
Ugh.
How many times must He remind me of this before I get it through my thick skull? Things can't always go my way. So upon my arrival at the office, I grabbed my favorite mug from the cabinet, smiled to myself, and said "Alright." I find this mug rather humorous. On it is pictured an elephant that is lying down looking disgruntled and defeated and he's covered in much too happy turkeys. Splashed across the top of the mug are the words "Don't let the turkeys get you down." I could probably name all six of those turkeys, assuming I was the elephant:
1. This weeks lack of sleep
2. Yesterday's early ending
3. Waking up to rain to start my "second chance"
4. The slow progress of my summer project
5. Pressures from the coming semester/volleyball season
6. Balancing relationships through my busy schedule (this is the turkey that is clawing the poor elephant's backside)
Just to name a few. What about finances? I have to find a way to pay for school and keep gas in my car. What about my health? My back is no joke. What about all those issues I've had at my second job? I swear those managers will be the death of me. Endless "turkeys" weigh me down. Think about it, those birds are heavy!
For me, as well as many college fall student athletes, this is crunch time. We have, on average, only a few weeks, a month at most, before our summer ends and we switch into the fourth gear of preseason. And more than likely, our bank accounts are probably still low enough to make us have an involuntary nervous twitch every time we see the number or let it cross our minds. What number turkey is that?
Admitedly, I have allowed the turkeys to get me down. But today I'm going to take the advice of my favorite mug. I have decided to not see my schedule as "busy" but as "full of opportunities". I don't know what your weekend looks like. I don't know if this week was crazy insane, boring as all get out, or just downright awful. Well I don't want to get all Negative Nacy on you, so maybe you've had the best week of the summer! Whatever the case, take this weekend to recharge your batteries. Sit outside and marvel in the wonder of God's creation. Go stargazing and think about how huge the universe is, and remember that God made it all for you. So what else matters? Don't worry about your schedules, if you're five minutes late to a coffee date on Saturday, the sun will rise tomorrow.
The stronger you get, the faster you will rise from the ground, and the faster your rise, the more startled the turkeys will get. And you'll find these turkeys are afraid of heights. They won't stick around.
I wish you a very pleasant, turkey-free weekend :)
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