Showing Up for the Race

I ran track in high school, and it still can cause me to break out in a cold sweat when I think of the moments right before a race. I was never really in that good of shape. In fact, most of my memories are of me standing out on the track in my ridiculously short shorts with winter white legs in front of all of my peers and everyone I knew and dreading the race. I ran the 400meters, which is a brutal all out sprint around the track. All I could think about was how I was going to hit a “wall” at the third turn. To everyone in the stands, I imagine it would look like someone had grabbed me by the neck and was pulling me backwards, while my legs continued to move forwards. And as ugly as it must have looked to the onlookers, I assure you, it felt worse. I can’t even tell you the courage it took just for me to get into the starting blocks.

I have seen the same look of dread that I felt when facing the 400m race on the faces of people when they are looking at their finances. All they can think about is how hard budgeting will be, and what they are going to have to do, and they definitely feel the urge to run… but not in the race. However, as I look back now at my experiences in high school track, I realize that it wasn’t the race that was horrible… it was that I had no idea what I was doing. My Mom always said that I was made to run the 400m, I just never figured out how to do it. Really it was my fear of the race that kept me from ever learning to run it better. I didn’t want to run it better, I just wanted it to be over.

So first of all I want to congratulate you because by picking up this book (or reading this blog… since its not a book yet 🙂 ), you are at least willing to figure out where the starting line is for you. You may be scared of knowing, you may be scared of your finances, and you may feel deep urges to run and hide right now. But at the end of this book you are going to have something so much better than fear and denial… you are going to have hope, and you are going to have a plan for your money that will enable you to realize your dreams. You are also going to see that your “race” is not nearly as difficult as you have made it in your head. There is always a way through any financial situation. Even when your debt feels like a mountain that you are staring at from the bottom of a pit of despair, it is my belief that when you start to take practical baby steps, and welcome the presence of God into your situation, you will be amazed at the outcome, and you can even enjoy the journey.

So if you don’t have any idea what your salary is, or where your money is going, or what your debt is… I am so excited because this is the beginning of a better life for you. I am going to take it step by step with you. Finances don’t have to be a fearful, complex, horrible monster. They might just be as simple as showing up for the race.