Play by Play Day by Day with Amy Lawrence

I’ve never been colder in my whole life. After 90 seconds in 36 degree water, I couldn’t feel the lower half of my body. I shrieked involuntarily (and tripped twice) during that minute-and-a-half, and my toes didn’t warm up for at least an hour.

But believe it or not, it won’t be the COLD I remember from my Polar Bear Plunge in the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland, in January.

The Maryland State Police host the nation’s largest Plunge to benefit Special Olympics with nearly 10,000 people braving the frigid waters over the course of several days. After more than two decades, the goal is to raise $2.5 million dollars to support the amazing athletes who train and compete year-round across the globe. Back in September, when an invitation was issued for me to join the fun, I accepted without hesitation. (It was probably Indian summer at the time, ha.) In college, I had the chance to volunteer with Special Olympics. My campus hosted a track-and-field event every spring, and serving as a “buddy” to an athlete filled me with joy. I will remember interviewing Josh for my radio show and hearing his incredible story. He started competing in Special Olympics in 1990, and he’s won multiple gold medals in alpine skiing and soccer. Now he’s serving as a Global Messenger. I will always remember the Plunge emcee, Elaina, who is also the Law Enforcement Torch Run Ambassador as well as the SO Maryland Healthy Athletes Ambassador. Elaina is a walking inspiration!

Yes, the water was FRIGID, and I made a lot of noise! But knowing WHY I was plunging gave me the motivation and perspective I needed to brave the cold. Plus, I couldn’t look like a weakling in front of hundreds of state troopers, ha. Now I’m part of the Maryland Special Olympics family, so 90 seconds of torture was a small price to pay.

Perspective is everything when we face challenges, obstacles, setbacks, and hurdles in life. When it’s 35 degrees with a brisk wind, 36 degree water is painful. But in the midst of a summer heat wave, that same water would be refreshing! As I spend long days outside working with young people in the oppressive July humidity of Cuba, the cold water would be a welcome relief (and evaporate almost instantly).

My pastor Ryan recently told a story about having lunch with a longtime friend who served multiple tours of duty overseas with the Army. As they were eating, a woman came through the restaurant door. This veteran excused himself, approached the woman and spent several minutes talking to her. When he got back to the table, Ryan asked if he knew her; but his friend said it was the first time he’d ever laid eyes on her. He said when you’ve spent years in combat, surviving a war and dodging bullets, asking a woman for a date isn’t scary. “The worst that can happen is she’ll say no.” It’s all about perspective!

Sometimes I need to stop and put my circumstances in context. When my blood starts to boil over stupid New York City traffic, I take a deep breath and remind myself it’s better to be a few minutes late than to lose my mind, drive like a maniac, and not arrive at all. This week, when I was frustrated with myself for a poor radio show, I tried to remember how grateful I am for this steady job I love–which means I will be back on air again soon to do better. When my brother makes me angry or my mother asks a million questions (Hi, Mom!), I curb the emotions by thanking God for them because I know so many people who’ve recently lost family members. When I feel hopeless over our nation’s great divide, it helps to recall the time I’ve spent on other continents in third-world countries. Despite our problems, we are so BLESSED in the United States of America!

While I wait for God to answer prayers I’ve lifted up for years, it boosts my faith to look back at the prayers He’s already answered in my life–for my family, my friends, my career. Counting His blessings and remembering how He’s come through gives me hope to hang on while I’m waiting. That perspective reminds me that He ALWAYS hears me and He always answers!

Context. The big picture. Perspective.

Shifting our point of view can change everything.

This entry was posted on July 19, 2019 at 10:38 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.