Running, Beta Fish, and a Glimpse of the Kingdom

Yesterday I thought it would be fun to run out to the coast and try to get a look at the elusive Atlantic Ocean. Though I live only 3 miles from it, I have yet to get a good look. As I set out heading east I found my small town quickly fading out and I was soon running along a bland country road with little that would appeal to the imagination. If you have done much running, you will immediately understand that I feed on having something to keep me moving. I need some sort of motivation to keep me from thinking too much about the difficulty of the run. This time the Atlantic was that motivation.

As I drew closer to the place that I had chosen to turn around, I began to realize that my objective was going to prove more difficult than I realized as the view was obstructed by dozens of structures blocking out the sea. It didn't help that I was running uphill at this point, either. Suddenly, just as I was beginning to question if I'd be able to handle the run home, my perseverance was rewarded. I crested a hill surrounded by modest homes and I beheld the sight I had longed to see. Between a large home on the left and a run down boat shed to the right there was just enough space to see the ocean stretched out to the distant eastern horizon. It was a beautiful sight that provided more than enough inspiration for the long trek home.

The life of faith can be a lot like that. We run, plodding along as best we can, trying to convince ourselves to just keep moving, all the time hoping to lay eyes on the source of our inspiration, if only for a moment. But then just a moment spent taking in the sight of the Kingdom is all it takes to find courage to face many more difficult roads.

Saturday night I got just such a glimpse. Freshman Jukebox is UNH's annual event to welcome the incoming class. Student groups of every kind come out to meet the class and set up interesting booths and games for the night. This year Chi Alpha did a Chip and Putt Challenge giving away a beta fish to contenders that could make three out of three shots. Perhaps a little cheesy, but students came out in droves and it provided a great opportunity to make a few friends.

Monica stood in the back timidly looking at the information table that held Chi Alpha literature. Seeing the familiar look that I know so well from my own past, I made my way from the prize table to met her. "So is this just for people from a certain denomination?" When I explained that we welcome people from all backgrounds, and that we sought to be a safe place for students who don't know where they are on faith, her eyes perked up and she smiled a relieved smile. That was my little glimpse of the Kingdom, and I think it was for Monica too...

Pray for Monica, that she finds that glimpse enough to keep her running, and that we at Chi Alpha could be part of her finding the answers she needs. Pray also for the class that I'm going to teach that will help students explore the foundations of faith in Christ. Monica plans to attend.