A Time to Process
For those that know me well, running is my “alone time” to clear my head, process, take in the sights, invite God to speak into me. Running long distances also pushes my physical, mental and emotional capacities that leave me in complete surrender spiritually. It’s very much like fasting.
My running regimen has been inconsistent this season. Rain or shine I needed to get out for a long run for two reasons: to have my alone time and to build up my confidence for an ultra marathon race this Saturday. Oh, and it rained, more like it poured for most of the 5 hours of running. It is typhoon season and yes, there was one blowing by us.
During my run I reflected on the events of the last couple weeks that spurred different emotions and thought: “wow, when it rains it pours!” (kind of fitting as I run in pouring down rain). We were a little overwhelmed to say the least. Feelings of frustration, anxiety, joy, gratefulness and downright awe inspiring which led to this phrase – Go Big or Go Home.
Why this phrase?
A) Was it because I had been running for 5 hours in pouring down rain from a typhoon blowing through?
B) Was it the plan and strategy running through my head (pun intended) for this weekend’s race knowing I am not where I desire to be physically and to be honest mentally and emotionally.
C) Was it envisioning the big things God is leading us towards this year and the years to come?
D) Or was it the full week we just experienced seeing God on display through all of the chaos?
I am going with E, all of the above!
A Twist
Go Big or Go Home doesn’t fit our scenario. We can do both! So, I made the adjustment. Go Big AND Go Home! We have experienced God do BIG things in us, through us and through our community the last 3+ years and we know we are just getting started. The momentum is brewing but we also know it’s time to go HOME (for a much needed break). We want to exercise our trust and faith by honoring God with rest knowing that He is in control of all that what we do and what is happening in our community. So our mantra for the next 11 months is GO BIG AND GO HOME!
Our plan is to Go Big by driving the momentum in our ministry all the way up to the time we Go Home to rest the entire month of August, 2022.
Macro View
Along side our regular ministry activities, the next 11 months will consist of the following:
Continue growing CASA (Community After School Academy) and the building into CASA leaders.
Connect, learn and encourage other churches in the city of Kagoshima and the Kyushu Region.
Coordinate logistics for members of our church family and children from CASA to join us next August in America.
Map out the routes and stops of Run Japan, our public awareness campaign for Not Alone Initiative.
Our work is cut out for us! Now time to post and drive to north for the Last Dragon Ultra coupled with a little family camping after running hard the last couple weeks. (Why does everything involve running?!?)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Hebrews 12:1
