From middle school all the way up to my collegiate track career, I remember the feelings of anticipation and apprehension that preceded the coming Track and Field season.
I also remember that the feeling did not dissipate at the arrival of the Track season, but rather was amplified prior to every meet.
But nothing compares to the feelings of expectation that reside within you until the firing of the starter’s pistol, where a sudden vacancy is replaced with feelings of engagement to the adrenaline of competition. I have found no emotion to be even remotely similar.
However, that all changed. Half-way through my senior year of college, I was plagued with injury and illness. Now, my attention remained strictly sideline.
It was also during this time that I was able to supplement my love for Track and Field to a volunteer coaching position at a local high school. In this season, there was a drastic shift of perspective.
I was able to see things that prior, I could only feel. My experience had to be assessed and transferred to other people who now were where I was, not so long ago. Perspective.
Now, I stood track-side and felt the wind of runners, instead of direct wind on my face. Despite this- I still felt so alive.
So what am I getting at?
I blabbered all about this portion of my life to say that perspective affects experience.
In the Christian walk, we undergo a wide variety of situations. Sometimes, Christians are in the middle of it and sometimes they are track-side to our Spiritual family. In both areas of life, you have something to offer whether in word or deed.
Experience is usually and rightfully attributed to age (Proverbs 7:7). But in the Body of Christ, the paradigm is that Earthly age and Spiritual age do not always correlate (Hebrews 5:12-14). Therefore, Christians of all ages have something to edify other believers, with the primary responsibility being on seasoned Christians (Galatians 6:1-6; 2 Timothy 2:2).
You can be engaged regardless of position, because you stand in Christ. We have fellowship by the Spirit and as a member of the Body of Christ and children of the Almighty, this makes you a member of the most powerful assembly on Earth (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Therefore, ensure your words and deeds reflect the Words and deeds of the Assembly Head, Jesus Christ. In our creation, He created us unto good works (Ephesians 2:10). In His Word, He instructs us to gracefully give wisdom to those who are without (Colossians 4:5-6).
Know that perspective on a situation will affect your experience, but do not allow an experience to shift your perspective which ought to remain in Christ Jesus.
God bless!