Faith Buddy. Not sure that I have ever heard that phrase used - so maybe I will start something new. But that is how I would describe my friend - without whom I know I would not be where I am in My Journey.
I did not set out looking for a Faith Buddy. I didn't set out looking for a No Excuses Buddy. I wasn't looking for anyone to help me on this journey because I didn't know I was going to be going on a journey. I have done the diet and exercise thing before and it never worked. So I didn't tell anyone that I was trying to lose weight. I just started walking - daily - to and from school with the kids. It wasn't hard to do but I also didn't expect anything to change. So we walked each day, up the hill to school and down the hill home. It was a nice mild winter so we continued as often as we could. I guess my No Excuse Week had its roots there because I would tell the kids there was no reason why we couldn't walk the half mile to school.
Finally spring came and one day I walked to school without my BIG winter coat. My son made this comment on the way up the hill - " Mom, I think you are getting skinnier." Let me just say that those are some of the nicest words that he has ever said to me. The scale may not have said that I was losing weight, but all my walking had started firming things up. So this lady kept up the walking - still not knowing exactly what was in store for her.
Later that spring, a remark was made by someone who would come to play a big part in my journey - a positive remark that they probably don't even remember - but that finally sparked something in me to make the effort. And with the support of my now NEW buddy, I began the exercise portion of my journey. Little did I know that GOD has a great way of working in someone without them knowing it (at least with me that's how it began).
I have been a Christian all my life. I accepted Christ when I was 8 and I have always tried to live my life as I had been taught. But I never felt like I was doing it exactly right - if there is such a thing. I guess I was looking for those Hallelujah moments, impressive answers to prayer or an overwhelming desire to drop to my knees and praise God. I hadn't witnessed this really but thought that if God was working in me that I would experience these things. Guess what? It really doesn't happen that way.
For me it began with talks about exercise with my NEW Buddy. Supporting each other in our challenges at the gym. I knew he was a Christian - and occassionally we would talk about things going on at our churches. But the first time he asked me to pray for something happening in his life - was the first time I actually felt led to do it. At church they ask you to pray all the time = prayer requests are sent out on emails or phone calls, or announced during services. I don't think I really ever felt that my prayers would make a difference - so I didn't put much into them. Words - simple words was all that they were. But this time there was something different - God made sure that I understood that He was listening. I honestly can't remember if my prayers were answered that time because that wasn't what I was focused on. I was focusing on the fact that someone else had asked me directly to pray for them - that they believed that my prayers would help them. It was that first step in pumping up my Faith. Imagine a flat basketball - new out of the package. It takes quite a bit of work to get it to a usable condition - and that is what is happening on my journey. God has been using me to help others and in the process those actions have helped pump up my Faith.
To define my Faith Buddy- is hard to do because he is also my NEW Buddy and my friend. But he is the one I can openly ask for prayers -without getting into specifics. I can share my frustrations and doubts (and yes I still have doubts - even God related ones but I am working on that) and believe that he won't judge me because of them. I can tell him when I feel I have had a cool God moment and know that he will share in the praises to God. When he asks me to pray - he knows I will and that I put all my faith in God in those prayers. When someone thanks me for inspiring them to make better choices in their life, he and I both realize that it was God working through me to get to them.
As for my Faith Buddy - whether or not he knows that I am calling him that - I am thankful that he is part of my journey. We have had some wonderful chats about how God works in our lives as well as those around us. We have both had struggles - physically, mentally and spiritually - over the last few years. And prayers, talks and tweaking our workouts have gotten us through so far. I can't imagine where I would be on this journey without my Faith Buddy. I am so glad that God knew where He wanted me to be with my Faith and what and who I needed to get going on the right path.
So - who in your life is your Faith Buddy?
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