Jilly Brandon

“Don’t run the wrong race .” This phrase was so impactful this past Sunday .

I sat in church alongside my good friend Laura. It was good to be back. She had a cup of steaming hot chocolate, and I had already finished two cups of coffee ahead of time, so I was woke…or so I thought.

It was a beautiful Colorado type Winter’s morning. To me as a Canadian, it felt almost balmy out. The color of the sky is the brightest blue denim, that fades only slightly to a washed and worn out denim as your eye is drawn to the horizon line, then seems to fade to white.

I have to brag on Colorado . So much sunshine here it feels almost like it has to be a movie, it’s that good. I think personally they ought to steal the logo, “sunshine state” from Florida because there is a ton of bright sunny days out west here in Colorado, not that there isn’t in Florida… however.. this state is my favorite.. hands down.

Perhaps I should be employed by the ministry of tourism here, because I could go on and on. If you haven’t been, you must put it on your bucket list of ” to do’s” and if you don’t have a bucket list, then get on it , time is a wasting away.

I knew I was beginning my journey back to Canada on Monday, and actually would arrive there the following day on Tuesday.

In retrospect, trying to save a buck, or several really, I took more of the obstacle marathon way home . I get blinded by the cheaper flights, and forget to add up the amount of added hours I’ll be traveling to my destination..

Well… after a 7 hour layover in New York from 12am-7am, I got to know the waiting area rather intimately. I really didn’t think this one through. There was me and two other souls trying to find a comfortable spot as we lay strewn across not plush red plastic seats, with a hard side table in the middle . As with many experiences, the immediate gratification of cheaper flights got swallowed up in the reality of a crook in my neck and back from sleeping in a pretzel like formation with my head resting on my ski vest, and no my teeth are not brushed either.

I just may now be too old to live in,

“The Terminal” like Tom Hanks in that movie. It does kinda make me want to watch it again though.

It occurred to me that it is often more desirable to try and find the short cuts in our lives. I want the diet that allows me to eat chocolate, red wine, bread and cheese, never exercise, and never put on a pound. I don’t want to have to work at it. I want the ” short cut.” If they advertise a pill, or an invention that lets me do whatever, and there not be pounds of consequences, well then… sign me up.

Putting in the work feels too hard. I’m lazy. I want to lay on the couch, and watch movies, under a fluffy heated blanket with a big mug of cinnamon spiced apple tea. That sounds sublime .

I realized after listening to this guest speaker on Sunday, that I don’t want to run the wrong race . I want to get to the finish line, and know I gave it my all . I don’t want to give up before the Promised Land.

I get tired, and discouraged… and triggered.. big time. Then I fall down the well of desolation and despair in a hot minute, and the tears flow, and the fear slides in like a slippery snake and threatens to steal my joy. ….No serpents allowed .

This guest pastor reminded us to say ” Rak Chazak” the Hebrew phrase for ” strong and courageous.”

It was inspiring, and a good reminder to be bold, have faith , step out into the unknown . You are not alone. You never were. Live today..because tomorrow may not come , and being uncomfortable in a thing causes us to move… forward… and forward is good.