you are not all you need
I went for a run this morning.
It’s my kiddos’ first day of school and as soon as I got them on the bus, I laced up. If you know me, you know I don’t really like running. In fact, it’s my least favorite form of workout.
I challenged myself 4 years ago to run a half marathon. As an enneagram 3, the public recognition and medal at the end of the race was my driving force. I trained and successfully completed two half marathons in two years. And after all that, I still hate running.
But all these years later, my soul still craves fresh morning air, so I end of running every so often. Whatever it was inside me telling me to lace up my shoes and go for a run this morning wasn’t wrong. I hit the pavement and pressed play on a podcast episode I recently left off on.
It was an old sermon from Elevation’s Pastor Steven Furtick. The title was Finish with Favor. It was talking about finishing the year 2020 with favor. To be honest, I wanted to turn it off. The last thing I wanted to listen to this morning was more COVID talk.
But before I could pull my phone out of my running belt and turn the podcast off, Furtick hit me with the most honest piece of truth I’ve heard in a while.
“We really have to be careful not to wish away stages of our life.”
It hit me so hard because I’ve been wishing away this stage of our military life for years. Years!
I have been ready to move out of Virginia for years. Each time the Navy keeps us here longer, I forget to understand our season isn’t over yet for a reason. I’ve been wishing away moments and seasons while I wait for what’s next.
Not because it’s hard or we don’t like it here, but because I’m bored. I’m bored with this duty station and instead of being present, I’m waiting.
As I continued on my run, I ripped my headphones out and shouted, “Stop it Steven!” I couldn’t bear to hear more truth about this stage of my life right now.
I don’t know what he said in the second half of the sermon, but that one quote stuck with me throughout my run. I arrived home and started thinking how I could make changes immediately. Another quote popped in my head and I knew these two things went together.
Several months ago Pastor Casey Henagan from Keypoint Church in Arkansas spoke at our church. He talked to us about living in community with each other. He used Moses, Hur, and Aaron as an example in Exodus 17. Moses needed the help of Aaron and Hur to keep his hands raised until the Amalekites were defeated. It’s an amazing story and I highly recommend reading it on your own.
At one point in the message, Casey said,
“You are not all you need.”
Dang.
Better Together
When we are in these seasons of waiting or wishing away a stage of life, we need each other.
We need to ensure we are not pushing people away. We are not all we need.
Instead of pulling away and waiting for the next thing, we can dig in our heels and connect with those around us.
When we are tempted to withdraw, we can engage.
Instead of using the military as an excuse, we can plant deep roots in our communities.
When we want to be somewhere we are not, we can commit to finding friends who enrich our lives.
We are not all we need and it’s through community we can stay engaged and stop wishing away stages of life.
Not only is life better lived together, but having a life-giving community around you, keeps you accountable. It’s a lot harder to start drifting away when you are anchored.
Are you in this same season right now? Leave a comment below and I’ll pray for us both.