When you are 23 and you get news that will change your life forever and then you hear a still small voice in your heart telling you that one day you will tell others the story of what you are going through at that very moment…..you never forget it.
In the past couple years God has been opening up more and more opportunities for me to not only speak publicly on topics that I’m passionate about, but more specifically, opportunities to share my personal story.
Last night I walked onto the campus at Cal for the second time to continue sharing my story. I felt quite anxious this time around. Speaking on touchy topics that are counter-cultural, is very difficult, especially on a campus like UC Berkeley.
However, familiar faces greeted me and I received several warm hugs from athletes I met last time I spoke there. This group, called Athletes in Action, is pretty incredible, making up some of the most elite college athletes in the world.
I started my talk by reading a question that was posed over dinner, “What would you tell your 15 year old self?”
Great question.
I told them that what I was about to share with them would be a direct answer to that question. I would be speaking to 15 year old me.
I told them that I was once exactly where they were. I remember showing up in youth group in college, soon after I invited Jesus to come in and lead my life, I was eager to hear the guest speaker talk on the hot topic of sex. I wanted to know what God had to say about it. No one had every told me before.
I told the athletes the question God had impressed upon my heart, “If you don’t tell them, who will?”
So, I got through it in one piece! Phew! I’m so glad I was not alone. One of my best friends showed up to root me on. One of the girls I met at the last meeting came to support me, although she recently graduated. And I am so grateful to those of you who prayed for me. <3 Thank you!
The rest is up to God.
By the way, what would you tell your 15-year-old self?
