October 2024 - Muscle Memory

Since March 2020, the pandemic has pushed me back into running. Eating a sleave of Oreos each night was beginning to catch up with me, and I knew I needed to more regularly and consistently exercise. I remember my first run. (Run for like 5 minutes, stretch, then see how far you can run). For someone who did track and cross country in high school, but then took like 15 years off from running, I could only run another 4 or 5 minutes before getting winded. I was at an unfamiliar running path, in unworn running shoes, wondering what I was getting myself into. With such a low benchmark for the next time I ran, my goal was, just run a little farther than I did last time. Each day got a little easier, the route more familiar, and pretty soon I was extending workouts, speeding up workouts, branching out to new paths and streets.

15th Annual Family Fall Festival - Smiles everywhere, some with more wrinkles than others, laughing, dancing, playing, enjoying the cloudless October day. Candy was won, hot dogs consumed. A time lapse of the parking lot would show emptiness, shadows shrinking, and then a quick explosion of activity, 40 or so vehicles, hundreds walking around, then emptiness again, growing shadows. It happened so fast which was sad, but it also seemed to happen so automatically, which was a huge unforeseen blessing. Many participants had lots of past experience with the event, and it sort of, just, happened. Setting up and cleaning up occurred with what seemed like the ease of pushing a button on a machine. With 15 years experience (and a pandemic speedbump), the Family Fall Festival has been able to expand what we do, and be more efficient in how we do it. Here's to looking for ways to branch out to bigger things for the next year.

As the students grow, as they continuously add on to the number of hours spent in our building, we see them mature and grow in understanding of themselves and right from wrong. We scatter the seeds, water, and leave the rest to God. And as someone who spends hours in our garden, not all seeds sprout, despite constant attention. Sometimes weeds choke them out, stray cats dig them out, some get not enough water, too much water. As we learn and grow ourselves, we still never quite know what words, activities, or actions will stick with a kid years down the line. It is my goal to daily affirm these kids as fellow humans with good days and bad days, but always with an attentive God by their side, desiring their hearts.

With Maximus being in the program as well, it is an interesting dynamic of treating him just like everybody else, with no special treatment, even though in my heart, I want him to do everything right and well all the time. Pray that the things I've seen this ministry do for students over the years would also impact Maximus in the same ways. With many teachers across the country (in Jacksonville too) quitting in the middle of the school year, I can't imagine how that might effect a child's trust in people sticking around. Please pray that our willingness to stay, our willingness to invest in their lives and love them is felt and taken to heart. I'm amazed what I get to do for a job. Thank you God!