Sometimes You Just Need a Reminder

It’s very easy to get so caught up in your own little world that you just forget the stuff that really matters. Finances, stress, job, and life can really put your mind to hard work and its simple to forget about what really matters. I guess I am guilty of that as I have been so caught up in the material and meaningless things in planning my trip that I forgot what my real intentions are for doing it.

My recent trip back to college to visit my buddies helped me put my perspective back on the right track. Going back and being around everyone made me feel real proud of graduating college at the University of Kentucky. It was so nice to be around all the other dedicated fans that bleed blue but most importantly it was a chance to be around the friends who I have developed bonds with through the years. It felt great to sit back and laugh, talk, laugh, hangout, laugh, and engage in some more laughter. It was even more fun reliving the stories that we shared several years ago and it was usually at the expense of one of us but it was all out of good fun. Yeah, being around those people made me remember that relationships are important and they help shape who you really are.

I guess this trip back to Kentucky last weekend brought me back to my senses. Lately, I have been overwhelmed with stuff that’s going on at work, life, and with questions like how am I going to raise enough money for me to travel? What makes it more complicated is that I have set my brain to hike the AT no matter what so there’s no backing out; I just want everything to be perfect. This can cause a lot of anxiety because I get that feeling like when I was in college and I had a 20 page paper due the next day and I only had one page done. Going back to Kentucky reminded me that it will all work out and that with my priorities in the right place this journey will be awesome. Kentucky reminded me that I have great support behind me even though I am not always aware of it. I know not everyone is on board with my ideas about this trip but that’s ok. The outpouring of support I have received from a lot of people (unexpected at times too!!) is phenomenal. In Kentucky I realized that as insignificant as I sometimes feel that I really do have the power to impact other people.

So here’s my chance to really impact at least one person’s life. Although I am not completely sure of the dynamics I am probably going to have to start my own fundraiser for this. I have absolutely no idea how to do this or where to start but I know God will show me the way. I’m leaning more towards helping kids who do not have parents and are living at the area shelters. What do you think? I just want to be able to impact someone’s life and really help at least one person out. I’m not on this planet to serve myself but to serve other people. This is my way of giving back. Lately, I have lost focus on that and I was beginning to focus on myself instead of thinking about how I can really help shape a young person and set them out on the right path.

This is where my trust in God is coming out the most. I am just completely putting my trust in everything no matter how poor I am and no matter how uphill this journey can look sometimes. I know that as long as I stay focused on God and why this trip is to happen then I will be successful.

Then JESUS said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder you cross, and follow me.....if you give up your life for me, you will find true life." Matthew 16:24,25(NLT)