Faith over Fear: Trust the Journey

This last year has been filled with foundational work, celebrations, struggles, and reflection. It has been fulfilling and life-changing.

Many people see the work I get to lead as superintendent of schools. They see the pictures, videos, and stories of how we impact lives, communities, and generations. I am always excited and humbled by this work. At the same time, I intentionally make time to focus on myself. I work hard to protect my priorities: Faith, Family, Health, and Career. Those priorities aren’t always perfectly balanced, but I revisit them often to make sure I don’t drift from the course God has set before me. Do I always get it right? No. Is everything perfectly aligned all the time? No. But I know what matters most, and I fight to keep those priorities in order.

I talk often about my priorities, but today I want to share the part people don’t see. I have shared on social media that I’m training for my first Ironman 70.3—a race that includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Even typing that makes me think…Girl…you are out of your mind! Maybe so. But I also believe that if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

The blessing is that I’m not doing this alone. I’m part of an incredible team (Team Waco 26) training together for race day on October 4th. We have been training since April, and it has been HARD—physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, I remind myself daily! I get to train. I get to learn how to swim in open water, something that once terrified me. I get to become a cyclist, even if it took falling three times—and earning a few battle scars because I couldn’t unclip fast enough. (No crashes…just awkward moments! 😂) And I get to run. Running has helped me find myself again. It’s where I think, pray, and reset. Yet after swimming and biking, those runs become a mental battle unlike anything I’ve experienced.

Most people never see these moments. They happen before sunrise, after work, and on weekends while balancing the responsibilities of leading a school district. This has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. But I wouldn’t change it.

This journey has taught me so much about myself, and it’s been incredible watching it inspire others. People throughout our district are signing up for 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, and marathons. Others are simply choosing to move their bodies and prioritize their health. We even started a district run/walk group that meets twice a week after work. It’s become a reminder that we have to take care of ourselves while we take care of others. That’s one more reason I’m grateful I said yes.

A couple of weeks ago, we reached the halfway point in our training with a sprint triathlon: a 750-yard swim, a 16-mile bike ride, and a 5K run. I was nervous. Like…REALLY nervous. If you know me, you know that’s unusual. I can usually prepare mentally and just go. But the night before the race, fear showed up. I barely slept. My mind filled with doubt. I questioned whether I could actually do this, even after months of training. So I prayed.

I asked God to quiet the noise in my mind. When I arrived at the race, I honestly wanted to pack everything up and go home. The swim was what scared me most. As I walked toward the water, I let several people go ahead of me because I wasn’t quite ready. Then a woman looked at me and simply said, “You’ve got this. Just jump in and swim.” So I did. I reminded myself this was my race and my pace. I wasn’t competing with anyone else. Only myself. Stroke by stroke, the fear began to fade. Before I knew it, I had completed the swim faster than I expected. Amen!

The bike felt great, especially hearing family, friends, and complete strangers cheering me on. Then came the run. Physically, I could do it. Mentally, it was work. Every step required me to silence the voice telling me to stop. Crossing that finish line is still difficult to describe. The only way I made it through was by faith.

Did fear show up? Absolutely. But faith showed up too. As athletes, we face moments like this regularly. As educators, we do too. We carry responsibilities that sometimes feel overwhelming. We wonder if we’re enough, if we’ll make the right decision, if we’ll have what it takes. Often the loudest voice isn’t outside of us. It’s the one inside us. Silence the noise. Remember what you prayed for. Remember what God called you to. Remember that you were made for such a time as this. I have to remind myself of that whether I’m serving as a superintendent, a mother, a leader, or an athlete.

As we begin another school year, I know there will be moments when fear tries to creep into our leadership, our classrooms, our homes, and our hearts. When it does, remember this:

Faith overpowers fear.

Every.

Single.

Time.

Be encouraged, and let’s continue to #InspireExcellence.

Ironman 70.3 Waco Loading