It was Youth Week in our town and I was leading off the mile relay—middle school against the high school. Our team of three 8th graders and one 7th grader was to race one mile against select high school athletes in the name of fun, fellowship and town spirit. I stood near the line, baton in hand, next to my competitor, a top athlete in her senior class. She turned to her teammates and smirked, “This will be easy.”
It was easy, but not for her. “May” was still rounding the curve as I slipped the baton into the hand of our second runner. My teammates held the lead and the middle schoolers won the race. The principal said he would never forget that day and I haven’t either. I went on to win bigger races, but this one stands out because it carries a message for me. I held on to my gift in the face of a challenge. I prevailed when someone underestimated me. It had little to do with beating my blustering opponent and everything to do with rising to my personal heights.
People will often diminish others to aggrandize themselves. I have listened to that intimidation too many times and relinquished, to that sourness, the power and gifts of God. When I think of that day in my youth, it serves as a reminder to protect what God has given me and run the race to His glory!
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6
Meeting God at the Park 