I had a drive home several weeks ago that left me amazed. A simple trip by myself does not happen very often anymore, except of course the daily drive to work. Well, this was not one of those trips. It was a simple trip home from Lubbock that was suddenly transformed. A few thoughts and memories replayed in my head and before I knew it I was wiping the water in buckets from my eyes. There's no way to describe when the Lord gives you a glimpse of your life and shows you when He changed your course. Oh, but how He did that day. What a sweet sweet glimpse!
Rewinding back to Wayland freshman year, I chose business as my major. Likely a safe choice in my father's eyes. A choice to please him. A choice to play it safe. Call it what you want, but business all the same. Through that major, I took several classes and met some amazing people. Made some lifelong friends and put in some late nights. Later than I should've had to. There came a time when helping a friend study at the Kettle for anatomy that it became obvious that I was in the wrong department and needed to switch. No how could I do that. Half a year invested. Can't do that. I remember walking across concrete prairie the next semester thinking....yep I'd love to do physical therapy, but man that pre-req list.....will kill me. God was planting the seed. But I kept tilling it up. Destroying and refusing to listen. Or was I?
I remember crystal clear a chapel sermon where a man came and said that every calling is biblical. It's a matter of you asking and praying and waiting for God to reveal it. Wow, I thought. Really? Well, I tried it and He gave me Hebrews 12:12-13.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet", so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
That's a high calling I thought. But I'm not smart enough. I'm not brave enough. I can't do that.
Well, I'm thankful that He gave me NO choice but to change my course. I'm so humbled. Fall of 2000 was one that will always remain the most humbling experience of my life. He changed my course. My husband Jody and I had just met and had been dating 1 month. He was in a horrific car accident and left with multiple internal injuries and a broken pelvis. He was told that he would never have children. That he may never run again. Track and hurdles were over like that. Basketball was in question. More importantly, his life. Those months were sort of a blur. My best friend Will and many others drove me back and forth to the hospital countless times to sit outside an ICU window and just pray. Lubbock Paradigm was a place of peace when my world was turbulent around me. I don't know how many times I took that elevator to the prayer room at Wayland only to crumple in the floor and beg God to work. To show even the doctors that God alone was in control.
Careful praying that. He showed us all exactly that. Half-way through Jody's pelvic repair, they flipped him over after securing the posterior SI screws. Bone-chip, PE, flatline. Shocked, shocked again. Stop. PRAY. The rest is history. The lead surgeon told Jody's mother that team had never worked together before on a trauma. By God's design he put that team together to meet in that OR.
So, without a doubt. I changed directions at the end of my sophomore year. 2 years done. Business minor complete. My new advisor told me that I was crazy to take that many sciences together. Too bad I told him. I don't have a choice. Daddy wants me done in 4 years. I'll finish the sciences in 2. My senior year I looked for PT schools and found that Hardin-Simmons that year was the only school in TX offering the doctorate. Well that was an easy choice and thankfully I got in. The rest that transpired there has truly transformed my career. It has put me on a course that has given me more opportunity and skill. It gave me mentors and a network far beyond what I deserve but I'm truly thankful to be a part of. (Yes, IPA its you!)
I'm so glad that God changed my course. I truly believe that looking back it was set. I simply had to take my eyes off myself and my abilities and shortcomings and walk in the path that He had for me. Because what I would have chosen would have made ME miserable. I highly respect the fact that there are people who love to crunch numbers and develop marketing schemes. I just get to do that now in my field. Nothing ever made me eyes light up the way anatomy does or seeing someone regain function and life. I'm so glad that God gave me no choice but to walk in what He had for me. He changed my course.
I'd love to hear how He changed yours!
