Don’t Drop the Baton

“Stay in your lane and don’t drop the baton.”  Those words echoed in my head as I prepared for my first high school track relay. Memory doesn’t serve me on why the fourth member of the relay team was missing, but I do recall the feeling of being a freshman and teaming up with three experienced seniors. And, yes, newbie here dropped the baton. Thanks for asking.

I bring you a less than shining moment from my past to set up today’s conversation. If you follow me on social media, you know I just returned from a trip to Guatemala. I was traveling with Compassion International, an organization that has been releasing children from poverty in the name of Jesus for more than six decades. I’ve been speaking for Compassion for almost two years and I’m invested more now than ever before. I’ve yet to process how it felt to come face to face with the child my husband and I are sponsoring, but I can tell you that I saw with my own two eyes how lives are transformed through Compassion’s work. I learned so much about Compassion International’s integrity and their incredible commitment to each child. I was so impressed with the organization I could almost drop everything I’m doing and go to work for them full-time.

But, I won’t. Because I know the importance of staying in the lane God has put me in and doing what I can do to live and give for the sake of the gospel. How about you? I’m not interested in guilting anyone into sponsoring through Compassion (although I wish you all would). Nor do I want to shame anyone for what they have in the light of the poverty I’ve recently seen. No Jesus there. However, I do want to encourage you to run passionately in the lane God has put you in and finish strong. Let’s be intentional about beholding Christ in His word and in the moments of our everyday lives, trusting Him to first transform us and then live through us to touch those around us. Stay in your lane, my friend, and don’t drop the baton!

Hugs, Shellie