GUMPTION!
By Sara Hageman
A few weeks after the NFL’s season ended, I was “sad” because football season is my favorite time of the year on television (my dad taught me all about football when I was a very small girl. The Green Bay Packers are my team.) I turned on the TV after we got home from church and sat down as the beauty of the Big Island of Hawaii instantly drew me into the show. There were men and women competing in one of the most challenging physical feats in individual sports, The Iron Man. I was amazed by the fortitude and strength of each person they interviewed….I was inspired….
My husband was just as drawn by the remarkable stories of post cancer survivors that now complete the Iron Man every year and several others. As the show ended, I looked at my husband and said, “You know you could do that……”
The very next day he went down to the beach to swim and within a few weeks, he had invested in a road bike, running shoes and goggles. He began dreaming of the race and hearing his name at the end of the marathon run, “Chris Hageman, You are an Iron Man.” He started sharing his dream with friends and suddenly he had someone offer to coach him in swimming. Our son owns a coffee shop that sponsors bike races, and he offered to sponsor my husband. My son sent him a new watch that gives him all the stats on his run, bike and swim. We have another friend who offered to coach him on his bike. Someone sent him a gift card for his birthday to Road Runner so he got new running shoes.
I love my beautiful friend Genta Luddy. While sharing about the upcoming “Pedal for the Cause”, she said, “I may look like Workout Barbie, but I’m not”...Hahahaha...that cracked me up! Well, if Genta is Workout Barbie, I’m her shorter, and a bit more rounded friend, “Loves to Eat Ice Cream” Skipper. I love hearing heroic stories and reading all about amazing feats. It stirs me up when I read stories of great men, women, and children who have made what was once impossible a victory. But I must admit that I lack gumption at times. I find it challenging to start because if I am completely honest, I procrastinate.
The only thing standing between me and my dreams is GUMPTION! Gumption is defined as, “shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness.” What we dream, we begin to live out in our speech, our thought life and our actions. We begin to believe our dreams and suddenly the resources are drawn to us just like they have to my husband and his dream to do an Iron Man. What is it that keeps us from our dreams? This has been my question in the past few weeks. I can feel a change coming for me and I’m sure that if I am feeling this, I’m most likely not the only one.
We get to choose what we believe.
Did Jesus die for me?
Does God love me?
Do I have a destiny?
Am I created for greatness?
Can I have a vibrant life?
What do I have to do to get there???
All the questions flood into our minds and we either choose to take the bull by the horns and make change or we wait for change to come to us, if and when it ever does. Between these two choices is a chasm of other options that either instill courage or fear in us. But, as my new friend Sue Stein says, “Do it afraid.” We have choices to move toward our dreams or run from them. We get to make the decision to believe we were created to do the dream or not.
WE GET TO DREAM!!
I woke up recently one morning on 9/10/19, to the kind voice of the Father. I’ve been asking Him for direction, advice on relational issues and what my part is in the change I feel is at my doorstep. I wasn’t prepared to hear what I did, but as I’ve walked with Him throughout my life. (I was saved when I was 7 years old and have only grown more in love with Him over these last 45 years). I know that He has only ever been honest and kind and the most authentic voice I’ve ever heard.
It was those few minutes between awake and still asleep, that vulnerable place when it’s still and quiet and not yet light….”daughter, you need to repent…”
….Ahhh, You’re so right! I repent Father…Thank you for the courage to turn away from that which isn’t healthy for me. Thank you for the GUMPTION to be and to do what will bring me into my dreams!! That’s it! That’s all it took. No shame, no depression, no judgment, just a turning away from.
Our dreams, however big or small, won’t dream themselves. It will take our strength and excitement, our courage and fortitude, our “yes” AND our “no” to bring the dreams to life. Just remember that He will send every single provision we need to accomplish our dreams. Procrastination, discouragement, fear, and the appearance of lack will meet each of us when we open our front door every morning. As we turn our face up to the Son, He will fill us full of gumption to propel us from our front porch and into our future! We were created to make our dreams come true. Holy Spirit is waiting to link arms with us to see them come to their complete fruition! His plans AND our plans become the boat we get into. Gumption will keep us in the center of Dream River soooo…
Let’s meet at the edge of the water and wade out together!