why we keep going...

If you were at yesterday's team run you know it was no easy run day.  The sun beating down, the humidity, and high temps made for not so fun running conditions.  I am pretty sure I uttered under my breath numerous times "why am I doing this"!?!?

Last year I trained for the full marathon and this year I am training for the half marathon.  I remember last year at certain times asking myself that same question. Especially when running conditions are not what you would hope they'd be.  The combo of bad running conditions mixed in with busy schedules, family's to juggle, jobs to do, relationships to nurture, houses to clean, to-do lists to complete, and of course sleeping at some time during your 24 hour day make for a lot of great excuses to NOT train for this marathon. Good thing we're not doing this for ourselves.

Why we keep going is so much more about other's and very little about us. Isn't that partly why we signed up for this team experience? Despite the brutal temps & humidity and hectic schedules to fit running into, at the end of the day we go to bed knowing we ran that day for a much bigger purpose.  Being on this team gives us a focus that keeps us pushing forward as we run into many obstacles along the way.

When you get a little off focus remember our 4 main goals...

We are on this team and want to use this DSM marathon event to first of all advance His Kingdom and Praise God!  I saw this so much last year and it is happening again. People are finding this team who have never walked through Orchard Hill Church's doors. Isn't that what we want to be about? Bringing people into a place where they can find love, friendship, encouragement, and grace to see Jesus in their own lives better.

Second, we want to get everyone to the finish line HAPPY and HEALTHY! Doing a marathon isn't everyone's giftedness, so to say, but with some hard work, great coaching, and encouraging teammates this can happen. It did last year and it was AMAZING to get to the finish and see your teammates their too. I can honestly say, it was one of my greatest life moments in my life!

Third, we want to develop a team mentality through building relationships and community.  Last year I started on this team knowing a handful of people as acquaintances. When I crossed the finish line in Chicago I was linked with 5 other girls whom I call dear friends today.  This year I started my training with these same gals and it is such a blessing to see the friendships that have  grown from hitting the pavement together for months on end. Not only them, but the many faces I've come to love, respect, and know better simply from joining them as a team member on this marathon team.  As for community... life has shown me through the past 6 years or so how much God intends for us to live life TOGETHER. Community is what God's desire for His people, I believe. What an awesome way to honor God through building community on this team.

Fourth and last, but no less important... we want to raise money to build a school in Mozambique, Africa.  Mozambique is one of OHC's "mission beyond our walls" community's. Partnered with Food for the Hungry, we have a strong desire to serve those in Mozambique. This means we give our time, bodies, minds, and hearts to this mission. We give with our financial resources too. As we do this, we bring awareness to others, inspire others and ourselves, and serve a big God.  Some days when I struggle through a hard run, I envision life for the kids in the Mozambique community. This keeps me going. Once again, less about me and more about them.

So, if you battled through the heat lately or found yourself juggling a crazy schedule, reread through our goals, our mission, and our focus for why we run.  We keep going because we serve a big God who has big plans for this team of runners. We keep going because we have teammates depending on us. We keep going because we have children clear across the globe hoping in us. We keep going because we can.  "We can do ALL things through Christ who STRENGTHENS us!" Philippians 4:13

Keep on going!!!