So, how much life has changed since my last post. One year ago, I ran a half marathon. I had become so fit at that point that I was running 7 miles in a day willingly, three times a week. Bad idea. And I knew better. I developed Plantar Fasciitis in both feet, and as a result, went from a 21 mile a week runner to a zero runner. This condition had hung on for several months before I decided to simply stop running to give my body ample chance to heal itself. 12 months later, I still have it, despite a doctor, shoe inserts designed for me, icing, stretching, wearing braces at night, and cortisone shots.
Of course it has not been fun. But during this time, my life mission has markedly changed.
First, what to do with all the time and discipline that I'd previously put into getting my runs in at 0-dark-thirty three times a week: entry of a new gift to nurture. I became (again) a lead worshiper in my church. Last September, while I was making the decision to simply stop running, I felt called to begin a new chapter. My first night of singing was my birthday. Nervous that morning, knowing I'd be singing, and petrified, I glanced down at my phone, which lit up uninvited, and displayed on my phone (again, unprompted by me -- I did not even own this album or song,) were the words, "Sing like never before." It is a line in the song by Matt Redman, "10,000 Reasons." This was prophetic, and encouraging. I had not called up that album cover, so it was God. I needed that encouragement on that, my first day back into lead worshiping.
It has been quite a year. One God-inspired musical experience led to another. My mother had given me a large ukulele. I got some uke strings, chose to string it like a 4-string guitar. My hands are too small to play a guitar, and 'on a whim,' I thought I'd just learn a few chords. Only once I got started I was driven to learn more. All I was learning fed into my role maintaining the music database for our worship team, and it sharpened my skills.
Meanwhile, I also felt inspired to pick the viola back up from my school days, when I took 8 years of orchestra. Again, I was driven -- DRIVEN -- to learn and practice. I quickly realized that it would be a wonderful compliment to my role on the worship team, and my husband observed the direction my skills were going, and provided me an electric viola so that I could praise God on it. The way I felt when I was able to give that gift to my Jesus just confirmed the decisions that led up to that.
Finally, in June this year, I had learned several keys on my "4-string" ukulele. I was playing all the worship songs that we were using in church. I found a 4-string guitar on Amazon for $150. I longed for it, but did not feel free to splurge for it. Then, after creating and presenting a slideshow and all the media for a celebration of life, something I do as a volunteer, I was handed, completely unprompted and unexpected, was handed an appreciating check for $100. I cried. I knew I could get the little narrow neck 4-string guitar that would enable me, in eventuality, to praise God in even another way.
So one year later, I can see looking back, that yes, God took something away, my running. He didn't heal me immediately of my pain. But he gave me something so very wonderful, so much more valuable. He gave me the opportunity and the means, not just a means, but 3 different ways to love on Him. In just one year - I am astounded at his swap. The opulence in what He gave me, in return for my running, which I had hung onto for 4 years with great self-discipline, as if it had value equal to my best efforts. The fact is that what God gave me is worth far far more. I trusted Him before, but oh He has given me 3 more glorious reasons to trust Him.
So yes, I am grateful, and I praise Him, and thank Him for not just answering my prayer, which I had prayed some years before, "Just one more chance, Lord, to sing for you. I realize I'm getting older, and that is usually for younger people, but I'd love it, if I could just do it for a time, just once more, before I sit in my rocker. I want to sing to You again." He honored, answered, fulfilled that prayer, and He heaped my viola and my little guitar on top. I am more grateful than you will ever know. I will try, dear Lord, not to ever hold anything closer to myself than You. xoxoxo Your Gail
