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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Team Identity!

Just a few of my many various Team Gear Ensembles

A lot has happened since I last wrote a simple blog post.  I qualified for the Marathon Maniacs, the Half Fanatics, did my first triathlon, joined the Snohomish Tri Team and also joined our local huddle of FCA Endurance. Whew! It's been a busy time full of racing, fun and fellowship with new friends.  It's also been a time of gathering a variety of team gear to wear at each race.  Yes, sometimes it can be a challenge to determine which team's gear to wear at which race.  Do I wear the Maniac shirt with the FCA hat or the FCA hat with the Maniac shirt or do I go all Maniac or all FCA or shall I do a half marathon and wear a fanatic shirt or wait, this is a triathlon so I'll wear the FCA hat with my Tri team jersey ...you get the idea.  No matter what I end up wearing I've loved being able to identify myself as a part of these awesome groups. 

The other day I opted to wear my FCA hat on a training run knowing full well that hat does more than simply advertise I'm part of the FCA Endurance Team.  FCA stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and belonging to this team means I also belong to Team Jesus Christ.  I race for Him!  I also represent Him when I'm in FCA gear.  Well, let's face it, I should be representing Christ all the time but when I'm wearing gear that specifically points to him ... well, let's just say I'm that much more aware of how I want to portray myself to those around me - a follower of Jesus who wants to share his love with this world.

Before my run I needed to swing by the grocery store and the gas station.  My original plan had been to get gas and then groceries but sometimes driving by habit takes over and before I realized it, I had pulled into the grocery store parking lot. I had completely forgotten my need of "go go juice" for the car until I had parked. I debated for a few moments leaving, getting gas and coming back but figured, nah, I was already here.  I'd get groceries first.  So that's what I did. 

Once at the gas station, I had just begun to fill my tank when a vehicle pulled up behind me with a young kid behind the wheel.  He looked to be in his early 20's.  He got out of his car and anxiously walked up to me before nervously asking if I could spare a couple dollars.  He was stranded and needed to get to a nearby town.  "I'm sorry", I told him.  "I don't have any cash on me."   If I'd had a couple dollars I would have handed them over but I didn't. He replied, "Okay, thanks anyway", and headed back to his vehicle.  I noticed when he got back in he dropped his head over his steering wheel and looked honestly perplexed about what to do and despondent over his situation.  I felt bad.  I remembered an episode I'd seen of "What Would You Do" on television where just such a situation was presented.  I didn't want to be one of those people who didn't help!  Perhaps I had some change in my car I could scrounge up for him?  I went and looked but I only had a few dimes, nickles and pennies; nothing that would add up to enough gas to get him where he needed to go.  Too bad.  Suddenly it occurred to me that just because I didn't have change didn't mean I couldn't help.  I could use my credit card to fill his car up with a couple dollars worth of gas.  Did I want to do that?  I recalled the hat I was wearing.  He had spoken to me.  Had he noticed my hat?  Had he seen the cross emblazoned across the front of it?  How can I not help him when I am wearing a hat that identifies me as a christian?  I had to share the love of Christ with this young man and help him.  So I walked toward his vehicle.  When he saw me he immediately jumped out of his car looking hopeful.  I told him what I was willing to do and he thanked me profusely as he selected the cheapest gas option.  I told him to put in a little more gas than he needed.  "Are you sure?" he asked.  "I'm sure", I replied.

As his tank was filling I was pondering how to make sure he knew it was because of God that I wanted to help him.  It wasn't simply out of the kindness of my heart (though hey, God does help us grow kind hearts) but rather, I wanted him to know God was looking out for him.  Everything I thought of sounded cheesy but I figured, you know what, cheesy still speaks truth.  So as he thanked me again, I simply said, "It's because I love Jesus that I'm doing this for you."  His answer?  "I love Jesus, too."  I hope he does and I hope he recognized God was looking out for him.  I didn't get a chance to tell him, had I stopped for gas before groceries, I would have been long gone before he ever pulled up.  God's timing?  I think so.  Had I not been there would God have still supplied a person willing to help him? I think probably yes.  So why did God supply me?  I believe it was for me as much as for him.  It was a chance for me to live out my faith in the real world.  It was a chance for God to bless me by giving me the opportunity to bless someone else.  It was a chance for me to see God at work in my life.  It was a chance for me to take the truth of what I was wearing on my head, a hat that identified me as a believer, and make it a truth that lives in my heart and extends into the world through my hands and feet. 

Why do I belong to FCA Endurance?  I want my racing to mean something.  I want my passion to be about more than PR's, medals and finish line photo's.  I want to stand, walk and run for something, for Someone bigger than me and I want to share that Someone with others.  What about you?  Why do you race?  If you belong to Christ and like endurance sports, may I suggest you give Team FCA Endurance a try?  We'd love to have you beside us on this race course we call life.  You don't have to finish first, you don't have to finish fast, you simply have to finish.  Why not finish with a group of supportive, faith filled and believing friends?



Here's a link to our local huddle in the North Puget Sound area or you can find us on facebook.  Check us out!
Northsoundfca.net
You can also check out the main FCA Endurance webpage.
FCA Endurance