The instructions are simple: Left. Right. Left. Right.

Why doesn’t everyone run ultramarathons then? Because simple actions over a long period of time is hard.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

The farther you go, the harder it becomes. You get tired, bored, and you don’t feel like you are getting any closer to the finish line. However, I have found that there are 3 things that trail running has taught me about my personal and professional development.

Nutrition matters — Your body craves nutrition in order to keep moving. When it comes to development, what you watch, listen to, read, and even say all serve as your “nutrition”. What are you ingesting on a daily basis? Is it building you up, or is it filled with garbage? Will it promote building the “muscle” needed for the adventure ahead? Protect your mind, body and spirit.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

People Matter — For many ultra races runners will have a “crew” that are there to ensure they make it to the finish line. These individuals usually friends/family who have taken their weekend to do everything from bandaging wounds, feeding, hydrating, and keeping the runner moving forward. You have to have people around you who know you and can hold you accountable. They know what you are capable of and push you forward when it gets hard. There are times at aid stations where a crew member quite literally feeds the runner as they are changing shoes, or getting water. All of this so that you can focus on the plan…

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Small Wins Matter — If you are at mile 47 of a 100 mile race, the finish line isn’t coming any time soon. The win at that point is going to look a lot like the next aid station where warm food, and friends await. That is the prize. Every development journey is littered with aid stations where we are recharged, refueled, and regain the energy to keep going. Maybe it is time with family and friends, maybe is was a 1x1 that was exactly what you needed in your day. WRITE THEM DOWN. Better yet, TELL THE PERSON HOW MUCH THE INTERACTION MEANT TO YOU! Reflect on and appreciate the people, places, or things that remind you of your purpose. Those wonderful things that literally pull your purpose out of you and keep you on pace.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Do not tire of doing the simple my friends.

I am always surprised how easy it is to put ourselves as the center of God’s Grace. We believe that Grace exists because of our failures instead of a picture of the heart of our God. It is easy confuse Grace with mercy, and therefore we connect it to our actions. I have heard the mantra, “Grace doesn’t mean you can just do anything you want to!” This is true because Grace and what we do aren’t connected. In fact, Grace has nothing to do with what we DO at all. The law did. The center of the law was to tell you what to do and not do. YOU and DO are the two big parts of that. Grace is what JESUS DID. It inherently takes you out of it.

So what is the point of life? What do we do?

Can I go on a little bit of a rant for a second? The what’s next and what now questions assume that we understand grace… Grace is not to be understood because Grace is a person. Grace is Jesus. IF WE ASK THESE QUESTIONS, WE DEVALUE WHO GRACE IS! We will never be able to understand or comprehend Grace, because Grace is not an idea to be understood, but a person to interact with. The woman at the well, the bleeding woman, and Zacchaeus all experienced the person of Grace. What powerful stories.

How does Grace change how we live?

Grace gives us the freedom to prefer other people above ourselves. We aren’t worried that someone has kids better behaved, makes more money, is more talented etc. We want the other person to have success, and believe that their success doesn’t impact your value. The power of community is that their story can impact you in your life. That is called fruit! Truly believe that See why we should never ask “Now what?” of Grace? Insecurity has been apart of the human condition from the moment Eve looked down at herself and became ashamed. Insecurity is human, and Grace is more.

Here’s what I mean by that. Even though I absolutely love worshipping God, I am human just like anyone else. I have insecurities and have a need to feel like I am seen by those I look up to. There are times when thoughts creep in that say, “What’s the point? You can’t even hear us anyway”… “When am I ever going to be given the chance to lead? I know I have it in me!”…. “Is the only reason I am here because I jump?” All of these thoughts have gone through my head at the same time I sing of how good God is. I can help but wonder how God can use me in that moment when the worship that I offer is so wrapped up in wrong motives? The Answer is simple. Jesus.

I think we can romanticize certain aspects of the Christian walk. We look at a worship leader and long to praise with the same purity of spirit as they do. Every fiber seems to be pointed to Jesus. Is this realistic? If we are honest with ourselves, the answer is no. So then what is worship? Worship is what happens when our human-ness meets the goodness Jesus. What do I mean by that? We have to be able to be honest with ourselves about where we are at.When we are able to be honest to ourselves about that, Jesus can remind us of who he is. The problem is that we have been so conditioned in what the right “Christian” answer is that honesty is many layers deep. I might have a selfish thought in worship, and then I get on myself for being insecure in the first place. “The more humble you are the better the chances that you will lead worship! Why are you so worried about leading?! You are supposed to feel honored to be doing exactly what you are doing right now! BE GRATEFUL!” It seems silly but this fight can play out over and over. Here’s the thing. God can’t meet you where you think you should be, and he can’t meet you where you will be in the future. He promises to meet you where you are at. Right at this very moment. Sometimes that place is filled with just an overflow of love for him. Other times it is a dry place. God meets us in both of those places. The love of God is never a moving target. It isn’t something that we have to attain. We are the ones who move, and the faithfulness of God is what assures that his love follows us wherever we go…. So good…

So what does this mean for worship? Am I a hypocrite if every week I look like I am just going for it and maybe I am actually in a very negative spot? I guess I go for it every week because the reality is that God has been good to me. Even if I refuse to see it at times. He is good to the very best of me, and the worst. That is what makes me a worshipper… kind of.