Run to Win

Recently my 19 year-old son turned on the exhilerating sounds of Rossini's William Tell Overture, a fitting piece of music for this moment in my life. In just a few days I am heading to The Florida Christian Writers Conference, a feat that brought me to tears in 2007 when I attended for the first time. I felt so nervous I couldn't eat the entire 4 days of the conference. Crazy, huh? (I managed to take a few swigs of Nesquik...but that was about it.)

Overwhelmed by the second day, I stood in the crowded hallways filled with brave, degree-holding, far more qualified writers, and crumbled.

Lost it.

Gave up.

Out in the parking lot, in the solace of my van's comfy seat, I phoned home and told my husband, through tears, that I was leaving the conference. "Everyone in that building is way more qualified than me!" I sobbed.

"Well good! Then they can help you." Keith chuckled, then turned serious. "You've waited your entire life for this, babe. And you're just as good as they are. I think you should stay and learn." His voice softened. "Okay?"

I brushed the white Kleenex lint from my pants, wiped the smeared mascara from under my puffy eyes, squared my shoulders and marched right back into the conference. My knees knocked every step of the way, but I did it. Who ever said that following God's plan for our lives was easy?

Now as I prepare for my third writer's conference, I'm excited. After months of hard work, I have a book proposal. Regardless of how things turn out for me this time around, I am confident that the Lord will establish His purpose in my life. I've done my part, and the rest is in God's hands. And bonus: nothing we do for the Lord is ever wasted.

As I prepare, I hear the echoes of William Tell's famous song in my head, and I picture myself running full speed ahead...with the Lord waving me on! It doesn't seem to matter that I don't hold a degree. God has called me to do this crazy writing thing. He has blown open doors that I would never have imagined.

And He will do the same for you! If God has placed a dream in your heart, run with it! Pursue it with passion and dedication and the strength that God alone provides. Fill your heart and your mind with the truth of God's Word. Spend time alone in worship and prayer with the lover of your soul. And then run.

Run with God. Run with your dream.

Run to win.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24