Horizontal Running

I love the movie "Pitch Perfect." I firmly believe that years from now it will be just as quoted and integrated into everyday life as "Mean Girls" has. Not sure what date we will be celebrating like October 3,but whatever day we choose it will be aca-awesome.

After over-dosing watching the movie 3 times the first week I saw it and a total of 4 times since it came out, I can't get over the wit, humor, music and most of all our dear friend: Fat Amy.

One of the funniest moments in the movie is when Fat Amy is avoiding running around the gym "Yeah. No. Don't put me down for cardio" and is found on a chair laying down. When asked what she is doing she responds on beat "horizontal running."

I can't help but appreciate all of the hilarity that movie brings and the character of Fat Amy. And like Fat Amy, I can relate to horizontal running.

Every break and transition, I kick into high gear and get into running and working out. I enjoy the runners high that it brings and simply just working out. Some semesters at school I've been better than others about making time for the gym, but this semester for a variety of reasons I didn't go as much as I'd like to. But funny thing, as soon as I got home I began to frequent the gym nearly everyday and I love it like I always do.

But in many ways I feel like working out for me is a bit like "horizontal running." (Bear with me for this analogy. I'm not saying I go to the gym and actually do "horizontal running" I'm not Jillian Michaels, but I do a real work out haha. Although I am tempted to try that motion just for the funny looks I'd get) When I go running in every break and transition in my life, it is a great coping mechanism. When I'm in a new place after moving, I like to run around to see the sights. I also like to simply just be in motion and feel like I'm being productive and getting something accomplished. By just like running on a treadmill or horizontal running, you never actually physically go anywhere. But for me I'm making progress.

I'm on the brink of my last semester of college. I've always been a student even though I've worked in between and I'm about to start going full swing into the unknown or as they say "commencement" with the rest of life. In the midst of that, I still have a full semester of being at school that I want to cherish and make the most of where I'm at while preparing in many ways for the future. This awkward middle and in-between makes me feel like I'm running full speed but laying down in the process because I'm not quite getting up yet and moving forward because it's not quite time yet, which is perfectly okay and I'm happy about. Yet, it's still a confusing place to be. Running has never intended to be "horizontal."

In an attempt to process it all, my initial reaction to facing anything is to run and remove myself from it. I never claimed this was the best coping mechanism. It's landed me sometimes in some really awkward situations of walking away from people to avoid conversations and that doesn't work because it looks strange and weird haha. But when I go on a run I can actually process and pray through each step and do something about my situation: get up and move. The other option is to continue being overwhelmed with being stagnant and avoid my situation completely. A run gives a fresh perspective and is a great method. Lately I've been listening to podcast sermons on my runs instead of music. I've had to mentally work through life situations and in that process I must continuously speak truth into my mind so that I don't believe the lies that are easy to latch onto. With that, I am learning to embrace exactly where I'm at and the pace I'm at.

So my conclusion about horizontal running? Well, every time I write those words is I laugh a bit to myself. In regards to my life situation, that's exactly what I'm going to continue to do-- continue to cherish the funny things and face life when step at a time and push forward even if for now I'm horizontal....next thing ya know, I'll be vertical running in the trajectory of what life brings.

Put it in the blog

Here is some Pico trivia. A prize will be awarded to the right answer...and by prize I mean a hearty pat on the back :) 

Where is my favorite spot in D.C to go? 

Trick question. I have a few. It depends upon what the spot means to me. For instance, my all-time favorite memorial in D.C. is WWII. I love the fountain where you shouldn't put your feet in during the summer to cool off, the unity of America with all the states, the history present, and the fact that it's smack in the middle of Abe and the pencil. 

If you were to ask me where my favorite look-out is, by all means it's the Kennedy Center. The sunsets on that building are breathtaking overlooking the Potomac. 

Favorite place to eat? Qdoba across from the FBI around the corner from H&M and more historically known, Fords Theatre. 

However, in the midst of the concrete jungle lies a real wild place- my all-time favorite spot in D.C.--the zoo. There is a category for this one....  And by zoo I mean more specifically the lions. I can't get enough of watching them. Despite the fact that D.C. has any history buffs and government majors ultimate heaven with incredible museums that literally house history that made this country, watching the lions are still my favorite spot. 

I decided this a few years ago. I can't remember when, but I just remember the lions pouncing on each other in a playful way. I read the little placard and found out they are social beings. My love for watching lions being lions has even made me like cats a bit. That's saying something because I could barely pet a cat. I'm a dog person. 

Today I ventured on out to the zoo with my lovely friends Patrice and Sheila. Despite the fact I've been to the zoo several times I can't quite get enough. If you find something good, keep it up. 

Several times throughout our adventure through the different exhibits watching the animals in a facade of their natural habit, we joked about starting a blog to put our thoughts and emotions about life. We coined the phrase "put it in the blog" as a comeback to the conversations and perspective. 

So yes, this a post partly dedicated that notion and partly because it's break and I tend to write a blog post on break. 

In my senior year at Liberty the lovely question in life is "What's next?" That, I don't know. But what I do know is I will be moving back to nova. And by back, I mean moving here for real--not just an extended stay during the summer months. 

I told my mom the other day that moving was a weird transition, especially being in college. I moved to nova, went to college, went back to Charlotte several times. My home has been three homes over the past few years. 

These years are a very unsettling time of life. But not always with a bad connotation. They are adventurous. New. Exciting. Different.

Yet, they are change nonetheless. My first summer here was one of change...then my second summer was change but in a way more exciting way. I experienced D.C. this past summer and remembered the reason I fell in love with it when I was 16 and I overlooked the Capitol during a rooftop dinner and realized that I would one day come back here and live. I don't think I realized it would come so soon, but then again, timing kind of happens. 

All that to say. Graduation is nearing in several months. And with that a new leaf. I am not quite ready to grow up, nor do I think I ever will. (You are reading a post from a girl who just went on a rant about how much I love watching lions at the zoo). But what I do know is that of all places for my family to move, I was blessed by the fact that two friends I met in my first few weeks at Liberty are returning to nova as well to begin life after Liberty. 

...so I'm putting it in the blog :) Today was a refreshing day filled with laughter and a good break in adventurous city watching animals play and being ridiculous. As Thanksgiving nears, and by Thanksgiving, I mean the Harvest celebration. I am thankful for fun days like today where I'm reminded of God's grace and sovereignty in my life in the little and big details. 

Encounters

Have you ever been just confused? Messed up? A thousand thoughts running through your head? Hurt?
Sure. We’ve all been there. One thing that helps me get through that is a friend coming alongside me. Put their arm around me and do a check-up. It usually plays out with the friend showing me and calling my bluff, because as humans we always try to hide where we’re at for fear of vulnerability.

“Bethany, what’s going on? How are you really doing?”

My friends says in a loving way. It’s at that moment, I usually breakdown and these “heart-to-heart” moments exist. To know that someone cares enough to ask that question, means the world.
This scenario played out this weekend. Except I had no friend coming alongside me. It was just me and Jesus.
I could hear him almost as clear as day.

“Bethany, what’s going on? How are you really doing?”

It was then. With the simple response I told Him. He already knew. And instead of getting frustrated with me for not getting it right all the time. He lovingly listened to my where my heart was at.

He is my best friend. How do I forget that?

Sometimes God uses people to be Him. Other times He shows up with just Him and Him alone. Being surrounded by His people I lose site of encountering Him and just Him.
It was a simple yet comforting overwhelming loving response.

“I know, Bethany. Trust me. I’ve got your back. I understand. I know your future. I know your heart. I know you. So just trust me. You know I see it all and love you so so so much and have exactly what’s best for you. I love you, my daughter.”

BAM. JOLT.

I was hugging Jesus’s neck.

Encounter’s with my Father like that.

New Stuff

God will always stretch you. As Justin Bieber once said. Never say never. I said I'd never shoot videos and edit them...and somehow with my job I have been tasked with that. This is the first one I've ever shot, edited etc and it was posted on Liberty's website and youtube site. Definitely a lot of room for improvement. I think God has a funny sense of humor...I am definitely not the most qualified, but I have this job and I am available and willing. So if ya get a chance, check it out. :)

The American Dream

The American Dream. 

This break I’ve been thinking a lot about this…traditionally the American Dream consists of the white picket fence, 2 1/2 kids, perfect job etc. You know the drill. The older I get and “closer” I get to asserting whatever “dreams” I want or have the more this dream really makes me angry. 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with having things or kids or a white picket fence living in America or even having dreams the perfect retirement location..nothing wrong with that at all. But our society has grown into an entitlement mentality where we think we deserve this dream…this dream is something to be attained, it’s deserved. It’s expected. We’ve lost the whole idea of work in general.

Besides that though, as a Christian this dream just simply doesn’t seem appealing at all. Now again, don’t get me wrong. With the Lord’s calling on my life I know I will probably live in America…it might be nice to even have a big house and have kids. My life might look somewhat like the “American Dream” but it’s the very thing I don’t want too. I don’t want this “perfect” looking life. Rather I want a life that glorifies the Lord in everything. 

If God financially blesses me with the opportunity to buy a big house. Okay. So be it. But let it be filled always with so many people. Let it be used for Bible studies, to take in my neighbors, a place full of love and people, a place where I can house missionaries…take in the homeless. Let God rock that house. It’s not mine, it’s His. 

I could go on for a while about all of this… but the main issue that keeps on coming up is I don’t want a “comfortable” life. (To be perfectly honest, I really would love to go into missions in every single way possible. But for whatever reason, God has said no. He made that clear as day…essentially as if He told me in an audible voice. And with that I have confidence in my next steps, although missions seem to be the “dream” I want…but again, it’s not about me).

I want to be stretched, to live biblically… The church has seem to lost this. I was listening to a Francis Chan sermon and he suggested if you read the Bible on a desert island and that’s all you know about Christianity or the church and then you walk into our church today, you’d be really confused. There is a ridiculous amount of truth in that. I want to be Christ-like, not the image of Christ we have created.

I’ve got one life to live. And now’s the chance to make the difference. Today. Tomorrow. The rest of my years, how ever many I had. As much as I miss Charlotte, moving away was probably the best thing for me…because I can get out of my comfort zone and cut my ties in way. I want to be used by God because I know Him and the power of his resurrection in such a real way… I want to proclaim the gospel in every single way possible. For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

And retirement? I don’t know if I want that. As awesome as a paradise resort would be drinking pina coladas, wouldn’t living my last days working for the gospel of Christ be the only logical conclusion to this life here on earth before crossing into God’s kingdom? 

This isn’t home. It’s a temporal place where we are here to proclaim Christ, be love to everyone. 

The only way to live is to be constantly aware of the next life. 

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither - C.S. Lewis

The Man Who Stole My Heart

Meet Erick Casa, my little man. 

God has been laying on my heart for quite sometime to sponsor a child…and every time I mean to do it, I don’t. On my drive to and from nova to Charlotte I downloaded some sermons, not knowing the topics, just knowing the pastors were legit. Both sermons were about being the church outside of the walls and the commandment to love God, love people. Take care of widows and orphans. Help the poor.

I couldn’t help think about how I want to travel and go do something out in the world as well as well as my community. God has laid so much on my heart, and I want to do so much for kingdom. I’m not going to wait, even if I can’t go, I’ll find a way to do something. Even if it’s a little something, I want to do it. One thing God has blessed me with is a job—and with that I try to find ways to bless people with my finances in my circle, but I want it to extend beyond that.

So to make sure I didn’t forget or get distracted, I quickly put a note on my phone. 

Choosing a child might have been the hardest. But not really at the same time. I went in with one purpose, while looking at all the cute faces was so much fun, I’m sponsoring a child that has the same birthday as mine. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love birthdays in general and I love my own. So in choosing a child I wanted to have an automatic connection with him…and a birthday is a strong connection. Erick was the only one I found with my birthday. I could’t take my eyes off this little guy. Erick will turn 5 when I turn 21 :)

To top it off, Erick is from Bolivia- a Spanish speaking country! So I can write letters to him in his language. 

My prayer for this year is for me to be used in ways I can’t imagine…to know God and make him known in more ways than I ever have before. 

Let this year be different. Let it be good. May God’s name be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. 

Take this heart
Set it on fire
Shining in the dark
I wanna tell the world of who You are
All I am is Yours

I give You all my life
I’m letting it go
A living sacrifice
No longer my own
All I am is Yours
All I am is Yours