Hello again.

I realize that it’s been a LONG time since my last post – too long. A conversion project at work, the holidays, and our normal ‘year-end busyness’ has kept me very busy over the last six months.

But now that life is starting to slow back down to normal, I’m getting back to focusing on my personal goals and sharing that journey with all of you. This past weekend I completed my second half marathon – and I’ve spent a lot of time over the past couple of days thinking about the path that led me here.

When you’re running 13.1 miles you have a lot of time to think. Saturday morning – as I battled more wind and cold than any runner should have to during the last weekend of April – I spent that time thinking about the past two years. Two years ago I was in a deep depression, my health was in dire straits, and I had no interest in what the future held for me. I had no enjoyment in life and thought about throwing in the towel. I had some good days from time to time, but most days I couldn’t help thinking about how depressed I was and what had caused it.

One afternoon a friend reached out to me and told me that the Lord had put it on her heart to talk to me. She told me it was time to pull myself out of the darkness I was in, and that now it was time to start to bring myself back to light – and life. If I had to pinpoint the moment when I started to find my way back that was it. Over the course of the next few months I sought out medical help to improve my health, I began a regular exercise routine, and I started to look for – and find – more happiness in my days.

If you would have told me back then that I would be where I’m at today, I would have smiled and said, “Wow. That would be really nice” – but I wouldn’t have believed you. I was so focused on the valley I was in that I didn’t even want to think about getting back to the top of the mountain. That afternoon was the turning point where I WAS thinking about climbing that mountain again. I started climbing that day, and I haven’t stopped since. I’ve been blessed with an amazing family and the most amazing friends – and a support system like that makes climbing those mountains a lot easier. However, as with any piece of equipment that you use, you have to actually USE it before you get any assistance. You have to ASK for help when you need it, you need to COMMUNICATE what help you need, and you need to ACCEPT the help when it comes your way. I wasn’t always good at doing that. Sometimes asking for help is the hardest part of the journey, but it’s probably the most important.

I’m currently doing a bible study by Priscilla Shirer called, “Discerning the Voice of God.” This week’s lesson dealt with God revealing his plan to us. Something she said during this week’s session really stuck with me – “Life interruptions can be divine interventions.” She talked about how God can use dry seasons and difficulties in our lives to shape us for the plans he has for us. Just when we think we have been forgotten, the blessings God has in store for us might be right around the corner.

I’m not sharing this story to brag on myself. I share this story to give hope to anyone reading this that feels like they don’t have any. I share this story to tell people that if I can do it, so can they. When we would ask my Dad for advice about a topic – and then doubt what he would tell us, he would say, “I’ve been where you are. You haven’t been where I am.” To anyone reading this that is currently in a ‘dark night of the soul’ or experiencing tough times, I’ve been in the valley that you are in…..but I’m currently on the mountaintop. You haven’t been here yet……but you will be.

Looking forward to sharing more of the climb with all of you…….

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for woe, to give you a future full of hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11