My dear friend and roommate Bailey runs almost every morning. I like running. I mean, I even love running. But, I have this weird habit of talking myself out of things I like to do. One night I was talking about the dread I felt for the 5 mile run that was set to occur the next morning. Bailey overheard and responded, “that is going to be so fun!”. Shocked, I asked her if she really thought so. In complete honesty she gushed, “Yes, I just think it is so fun to wake up and run.”.
Ah! Bailey lesson #1, life is good and we get to choose to find beauty and adventure in it.
Living with Bailey this past year I have learned a few things. These lessons are sometimes extracted from our conversations we have while making lunch. While she microwaves her sweet potato and I scramble eggs, I hear her speak God's truth and positivity over her life and I learn the power this has. However, simply watching Bailey is where I learn the most. The coming and going begins with me bumping into her in the bathroom at 7:30 AM after her 5-8 mile run. Later that night I will see her as she joyfully bursts into the back door with her iPod headphones. She always walks the .75 mile length to and from campus. She loves walking and finds peace and joy in the quiet. I feel like her face is always filled with life, no matter how tired she is.
I occasionally view challenging days through lens of dread. These days are comparable to “getting through a quicksand pit alive” or “jumping through hoops of fire with a gigantic flammable cloak on”. One Monday when the week looked especially ominous—with papers, social commitments and a few exams-- I pleaded with Bailey for her perspective.
She shot off the beautiful truth that God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. She then explained her perspective shift. She recognizes the obstacles and takes them on Indiana Jones style. The image of this is hilarious, but for multiple weeks the idea stuck with me. The image transformed depending on what my particular battle was. When I had to deal with papers and shuffling from the car to the classroom the library I pretended I was Jason Bourne in Europe (I mean, he always was dealing with annoying travel documents while he was fatigued and on the move). When it was cold and dark outside (my least favorite weather conditions) and I had to accomplish some seemingly mundane task I imagined I was Harry and Hermione running around the enchanted forest.
Somehow it works.
Overall, Bailey has taught me that life’s obstacles really aren’t a big deal. In fact, with God by our side we are victorious and filled with joy, hope and peace.
“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”
-Phillipians 4:6 (Amplified)
“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.”
-Ephesians 6:12-14 (The Message)
Waco, TX
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