All In (#GiftedGirls reflection)
There’s a video clip circulating of service at The Potter’s House where Bishop Jakes and the worship team sing and declare, “Whatever it takes, I’m all in!” It is powerful, and could very well help any of us through the rest of this year.
Then, I had a conversation with a lady in my doctoral cohort. The spring semester was unusually tough for her. We talked about how much more we have to remove from our lives to offer more commitment to doctoral study. We thought we were focused, but the program needs more of us.
That’s when she said, “I decided I’m all in.” These words. They don’t retreat. They stick with me.
I found this photo and thought about my “all in” commitment to the pursuit of this doctorate.
If this entire car on the train was dedicated to my life’s goals, am I on board?
How much determination do I have to finish, and finish strong?
No one really prepared us for the internal scaling down of pursuing a doctorate. Graduate work was challenging, but it was nothing like this.
I looked at this photo and was halfway down this aisle assigning the “important” things in my life. But “ALL IN” means more of me…my vision, my faith, my tears, my push, my pull, my words, my papers, my outlines, my tables and figures for Dr. Ingram’s papers, my A’s, my dissertation, my research question, my time…
If this entire car was dedicated to me, for my life right now, I need to move in and get settled. I need to run this marathon as it is, not try to convert it to a sprint. I need to be ALL. In.
Psalm 139:5 – You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
And so I find there’s room in the “tight place,” but it’s for me.
Where are YOU going that demands ALL of YOU right now? Give up Beloved, and surrender.
Selah, and love to all.
Blogs I Follow
The Bereans' Commentary with Shaunta D. Scroggins, Ed.D. 