Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths~Proverbs 3:5-6
Mother of three boys with the twins still at home, I was exhausted. I don’t dress up. My husband does not even own a suit. I did not have any experience conducting board meetings and had never heard of “Robert’s Rules of Order.” Besides that, I definitely do not like public speaking. I already have plenty of stressors in my life; there was no need to add any more to my plate as a daughter, wife and mother.
Telling the nominating committee “no” three times was actually easy for this “pleaser.” This is not my calling and especially not at this stage of my life. It would be crazy, stepping way out of my comfort zone to accept.
I was disturbed-God and the Holy Spirit kept nudging me. Loma Linda University had given us so much: a family history of education, careers, spiritual nourishment, friendships and spouses. With a heart full of gratitude for those who had come before and a belief and hope for the future, I conceded.
As the first Auxiliary event started falling together and our speakers for the year were lined up, I thought this is God’s work, not mine! This is what the Lord has called all of us to do, step beyond our comfort zones, go away from the safety and calm water of our shores. Many before us have done so, discovering and creating great things. LLU is the result of men and women stepping out and being the “crazy ones” in their time for the Lord.
At our fall event, the speaker challenged the Auxiliary by reciting the following prayer of an adventurer. It spoke to me and the room full of guests. I’m certain you’ll find its relevancy has stood the test of time.
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life, having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity, and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas, where storms will show Your mastery, where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizon of our hopes, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope and love. This we ask in the name of our Captain, who is Jesus Christ-Sir Francis Drake (1577).
As we venture beyond the safety of our “shores”, may we be used by God for His divine purpose.
-Maggie Cotton, LLUSN class of 1995, is president of LLU Medical Auxiliary from 2013 to 2014. Her husband Adrian, is a 1995 LLUSM graduate. They reside in Redlands, California, with their three sons.