At the beginning of every school year, I tell this story:
Once upon a time there was a girl who desperately wanted to be liked and noticed by other people. When she was in junior high, she participated in several sports but she was a bit height and skill challenged so that was discouraging for her. So her dad encouraged her to try running. They began by running around the block and seemed to take forever. She didn't really like it. But after persevering a little longer, she started to enjoy it and began running longer distances. When she began high school, she tried out for the cross country team. It was a lot of fun even though practices were early in the morning. She ran her first meet--2 miles and it was great! One day she was running, stepped on a rock, and twisted her foot. It hurt, and continued to hurt the rest of the day. So she went to the doctor, and the doctor said, "You have a bruise on your foot. Rest for a few weeks." (I like to include different voices for each character in the story, much more entertaining). So she rested. Then she tried to run the next meet and it still hurt a LOT. So she went back to the doctor and he said, "I'm sorry, I missed a little crack on your bone on your first xray. You have been running on a broken foot." What? The girl was pretty bummed. You see, running and being a part of the team had become really important to her. But, she couldn't run the rest of the season. She had to wear a beautiful shoe that looked like the shoes you wear at the bowling alley. It was supposed to help it heal. Well, do you think she gave up on running? (No from the audience). No, in fact she was determined to run farther and faster the next year. The good thing was that her cheering voice got a lot of use as she still went to all the races with her team that season.
Well, the next summer she ran a lot, almost everyday. It became an obsession. She had to run. She ran a few races that season and then ..... She developed some pain in her leg. So she went to the doctor and the doctor said, "Um, you have a little crack (a demonstration of little is good here) in your bone. You have a stress fracture." Sigh, well actually it was more of an angry reaction this time. What? How could this be happening again? What is going on? Do I need a new pair of shoes again? Seriously. In fact, this girl started to become angry at God. She wanted to find her identity and love in being good at something (running) and being noticed, and her plan wasn't working very well. A good friend of hers was supportive an encouraging and suggested that she go to a retreat with her. So she did, and while she was there, she realized that God loved her and her identity was not in running, or being popular, or having a lot of friends, or getting good grades, but in the fact that she was a child of God. God created her, loved her, and had good plans for her life. God loved her so much that He had His Son die for her sins. It was a life changing weekend. Running was still important to her, but not in the same way.
The next running season she tried again. She trained less, got different shoes again, and didn't go to practice everyday. She ran a few races and then something happened... She went to the doctor and the doctor said, (At this point, the kids notice the pattern...) "You have a little crack in your bone, you have a stress fracture." Ugh, again. But, this time she knew that the Lord was watching over her and had good plans for her even with another injury. The doctor suggested that something might be wrong with her growth or bones because she had so many stress fractures. So she traveled to Mayo Clinic to have some tests done. It was a little bit scary, but she trusted the Lord. At Mayo, she saw lots of doctors and at the end of the day, the doctors said, "Well, we found a little crack in your bone...." No just kidding, they found absolutely nothing! Praise God--it could have been something very serious, but they just thought it was a crazy coincidence that she had three stress fractures three years in a row.
Well then comes senior year of high school--wow time flies! She ran cross country that year, and she ran the whole season. So what do you think this girl learned? Who do you think this girl is? (By this time, they have figured it out..)
"It's you, Miss W!"
Several times throughout the school year kids have come to me at recess said, "Miss W, I think I have a little crack in my bone..." I tell this story because those injuries and trials helped me understand that my identity rests in the Lord. At the retreat, I gave me life to the Lord. Before then, I had the head knowledge but not the heart knowledge of what it means to have a relationship with my Heavenly Father. I tell this story because every single person wants to be noticed, to be someone, to be loved, but every single person out there will not be satisfied or content until he or she understands that identity and true love come from the Lord.
Those little cracks in life are lessons of perseverance. Perhaps they will help you or someone else come closer to the Lord.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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