Every year on January 12, there is one person that I regularly have on the brain. His name is Joseph Ryan Waldrop. Today (1/12/10) would have been his 27th birthday. However, my friend Joe passed away over 4 years ago now. Joe was parapalegic due to a childhood illness and it didn't help at all also being in a couple car accidents during his lifetime. But if you ever talked to Joe, that's not what was priority to him. To him, the thing that mattered most were the people that he surrounded himself with, his "support system" persay.
The first time I met Joe in person, he and his friend drove from Mobile, Alabama to Cincinnati, Ohio to be a part of my graduation from my first year of Master's Commission. I don't think I could put into words what that meant to me.... After graduation, Joe let me know that he also wanted to be a part of Master's Commission. Joe, however, starting having seizures, which prevented him from coming the following year. We kept in touch frequently, encouraging each other, and just being the best friend that we could be.
The following summer, June 2004, I received the voice mail that made my heart drop. Joe had passed away. He had had a severe seizure, and didn't make it. His brother proceeded to explain about funeral plans, visitation, etc. After I cried for a few minutes I realized, he was finally free from that wheelchair. He and God were up in heaven probably listening to his favorite band, Five Iron Frenzy. :)
Today, especially, I was thinking: "What was it about Joe specifically that makes me re-evaluate life on this day every year?" And I think I may have come up with it...
I think that everyone that's in our life is put there for a "reason and a season" as I've heard it called. But some people just help chisel small parts of us into who we are meant to be and others are welders, making a massive impact on who we are, and ever more-so, who we are meant to be. Joe, for me, was a welder. He is a big part of the person that I am today. I think that we all have several people with chisels to help shape us, but we have only a few welders. Who are those people for you?
Don't take for the granted the relationships you have at this point in your life. Appreciate the moments you are given. And be grateful for all the people that shape the person that you are and that you CAN become.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The beginning of this Journey
Being the first blog, I've EVER done outside of MySpace, I'm not really sure how to get this started. So I'll start with things I know, and things and I'm in the process of learning at this point of my life:
The biggest (and most time) consuming thing that is happening now is that I am currently in the process of training for the Ride: Well tour. This is a bike ride that will take place during June and July, going from San Diego to Myrtle Beach. I'll be on a team of 16 others (I think...) that will be riding with me for a tremendous cause...fresh water and health for those that otherwise may not get it. You see, this ride is raising funds for Blood: Water Mission, an organization that builds fresh water wells and health clinics in Africa.
If anyone reading this grew up in the church like I did, this cause seems like another tele-evangelist pre-prayer money collection. And like you, I'd heard about the need over and over...but something changed in me. Something snapped. Maybe it's conviction, maybe it's the timing of this point in my life, whatever you want to call it, it happened to me. When I read that 1 in 6 people in Africa don't have clean accessible WATER, I pray that something also happens to you. To know that 1/3 of a CONTINENT doesn't have something that we take for granted, is heartbreaking and something that really woke me up.
You see, I'm not a crazy triathalon, marathon, ironman athlete. I started going to the gym and paying attention to my diet back in March, but that's about it. But one thing that I've learned is that when circumstances are beyond me, God usually puts people in my life to encourage me to push past the limits that I've set up for myself. That's what we do...whether it be a medical disorder, or people speaking negatively into your life at an age where it molds you, or (like me) a childhood that gave you a misconception of church or God or Christians, we all put limits on ourselves.
So, I'd encourage you, if you're at a point of confusion on your next "step" in life, think BIG. Think beyond you...make 2010 different. Make it what you want it. Do something you would have never thought or dreamed of. I'd love to hear what it is..what are your beyond-you goals for this year?
The biggest (and most time) consuming thing that is happening now is that I am currently in the process of training for the Ride: Well tour. This is a bike ride that will take place during June and July, going from San Diego to Myrtle Beach. I'll be on a team of 16 others (I think...) that will be riding with me for a tremendous cause...fresh water and health for those that otherwise may not get it. You see, this ride is raising funds for Blood: Water Mission, an organization that builds fresh water wells and health clinics in Africa.
If anyone reading this grew up in the church like I did, this cause seems like another tele-evangelist pre-prayer money collection. And like you, I'd heard about the need over and over...but something changed in me. Something snapped. Maybe it's conviction, maybe it's the timing of this point in my life, whatever you want to call it, it happened to me. When I read that 1 in 6 people in Africa don't have clean accessible WATER, I pray that something also happens to you. To know that 1/3 of a CONTINENT doesn't have something that we take for granted, is heartbreaking and something that really woke me up.
You see, I'm not a crazy triathalon, marathon, ironman athlete. I started going to the gym and paying attention to my diet back in March, but that's about it. But one thing that I've learned is that when circumstances are beyond me, God usually puts people in my life to encourage me to push past the limits that I've set up for myself. That's what we do...whether it be a medical disorder, or people speaking negatively into your life at an age where it molds you, or (like me) a childhood that gave you a misconception of church or God or Christians, we all put limits on ourselves.
So, I'd encourage you, if you're at a point of confusion on your next "step" in life, think BIG. Think beyond you...make 2010 different. Make it what you want it. Do something you would have never thought or dreamed of. I'd love to hear what it is..what are your beyond-you goals for this year?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)