Lessons from Lifeguarding (Part 1)

Last October I moved to Charlotte to start a new job. In this process I had to go through recertification on my lifeguard license. I had been off stand for 3 months, I wasn't totally rescue ready, and it was a new place. I knew that the extra training will most definitely not hurt me. Through this process I learned some practical lessons that also can be applied spiritually...

1. Accepting correction from those who are more experienced on knowledgable really makes your life easier later.
--- this past summer my supervisors would consistently correct things they saw us doing wrong. It was annoying sometimes and sometimes seemed like overkill, but as I went through training again... It's made everything so much easier! And I was doing a better job at doing my job. Spiritual mentors are a wonderful blessing, while you should always take what you're taught and check it against the Bible... You should always be willing to listen to them and pray about what's been said.

2. It's more than okay to ask for help when you need it.
---Put the pride down. In some rescues, YOU NEED HELP! Attempting alone can cause danger to you. It can cause danger to your guest. Or if there's a worst case scenario... Getting an unconscious guest out of the water on your own: impossible. Performing effective CPR on your own: impossible. Not calling for help in that worst case can cause a guest to die in your care. (Not asking for needed help can cause spiritual death of those under your spiritual care too.)

3. No matter how much you know, or how good you are, you can always do better and know more.
---Never settle with where you are spiritually! Always strive for growth!

4. Having people to hold you accountable helps you always do better.
---The company that I was licensed through requires our supervisors to be constantly auditing us. This can involve random observations, throwing a mannequin in our zone to test our visual awareness, or even throwing themselves in for a mock drowning for a practical skills audit. But that's not it, the company itself comes and does audits, completely unannounced, acting like a guest they'll observe us for part of the day, and then reveal who they are and then do some practical audits. Sound stressful? It isn't if you're doing your job the way you're trained and the way you know you should be. It actually keeps everyone safer. Just like accountability partners keep you safer from your sin.

Evangelism: A Spiritual Ropes Course

This morning in Bible class I got a lesson through my job.


I work as a guide at a facility with several ropes courses. One in particular is around 60 feet in the air at one point. It can be scary. Taking that first step off the platform on to the element is the hardest part. When you step down onto the cable it can be scary, shaky, and seem too hard... but when you remember you're anchored above you to another cable by way of a trolley on a tether and that because of those pieces of equipment you can't fall. It might still be scary, and shaky, and seem to hard but it is possible and with practice it keeps getting easier and you'll get more stable and better balanced.

I thought of this as we were talking (in some form) about reaching out to others. We talked about always sticking to scripture and always going to older wiser Christians.

Reaching out to others is like doing a spiritual ropes course. If you're standing on the scriptures and you're anchored above you to God, then you can't fall. It might be scary. It might be shaky. It might seem too hard. But you can't fall.

An interesting thing about ropes courses: When you step on a cable, you might think that if you're unstable alone that you definitely don't want to be on the cable at the same time as anyone else. You'll want others to wait until you get off. However, if you have someone on that cable with you who has been there before and has had practice and has gotten to that point where they are balanced as they go through... with them on the cable with you that cable is held more taught and you'll be able to balance a little easier even in your inexperience.

Same holds true as when you're reaching out to others... If you've got someone with you who has had more practice and has gotten better and has the wisdom to be steady throughout the study process. OR even in faith in general if you take your questions to those who have "been there, done that" so to speak and have gained the wisdom through study to be steady in life... In either scenario, you're going to be more stable and it won't seem as scary or as hard because you'll have that extra hand that knows how to trust God and can help keep you spiritually anchored above and standing on the word of God.

Thankful to be Spoiled

Today is Mother's Day.

And I've been thinking about how thankful I am for both my mothers. My birth mother who put my needs above her own desires and my mom who is just an incredible woman.

And that got me thinking even further. I am spoiled.

It's Mother's Day.  So let's start with my Mom.

She's the reason disabilities don't phase me.

She's in a wheelchair. She was born with a birth defect and can't walk.

But that hasn't once stopped her.

She volunteered with my preschool and was a stay at home mom until I started Kindergarten...

At which point she started working on her teaching degree. I grew up watching her fight for her education. There would be classes she needed that were scheduled in rooms on upper floors of old buildings with no elevators. Because of the determination of  my mom (and a few others) I got to see elevators put in not just one, but several buildings on that university campus.

I remember when she was in school and I'd be dropped off on campus after school and I'd get to go have a snack and follow "cougar tracks" around the campus with her between classes. I remember her geology teacher letting me color with rocks on scrap paper while they had class. 

And that's not the half. 

I am spoiled.

My dad: A leader in the church

I remember getting to be there when he became a citizen. I was four. He's the reason I don't have to be taught to appreciate other cultures and languages.

I watched him go on a mission trip every year. I loved looking at the pictures he brought back. The crazy stories he told absolutely delighted me to listen to. He's the reason I have a passion for mission work.

Because of how he treats his family, my mother and I, and our church families... He's the reason I have super high standards for the man who will one day be my husband. He's set an amazing example of how a dad and husband should be.

I am spoiled.

 

My Metzmama (Grandmother)

The person who continually teaches me that love knows no communication barriers. One of the very few things we each know in each others native language is "I love you" and she says it to me every chance she gets. It's incredible.

I am spoiled.

 

My Gran-gran (Grandmother)

The example of beating the circumstances and fighting for what's best for your children... I wasn't there. But I know she had to go through a lot to get my mom where she is now. And the cool thing is I get to see that from the perspective of my own mother following that example and doing the same for me when it was needed.

I am spoiled.

Beyond my family I am still spoiled. 

 

I have had leaders in youth groups, campus ministries, and churches that have been amazing examples of grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and true Godly love.

I am spoiled.

 I have had the privilege of watching so many young girls that I love so much... continue to grow into wonderful Christian young women. It's really encouraging.

I am spoiled.

I have friends that will stand with me and pray with me through spiritual battles of all kinds. Friends that will push me and love me. Friends that want to see me continually grow spiritually just as much as I want the same for them.

I am spoiled. 

But most importantly, I have a God who gave me not only all of this... But He also gave His only son to die for me. So that I could live freely forever.  I have a God who is willing to forgive me all my sins. I have a God who not only wants my heart but who protects my heart. A God who listens and hears my prayers. A God who wants what is best for me always, even as painful and uncomfortable as it might be to go through sometimes to get there. A God who conquers all.

And I am so SO very thankful for all of that