other people, and the rest of the day needs to remain free for my family.”
I needed this consultation with him. From all the research I’d done, he was the best in the field, and he was very familiar with the Warrior Obstacle Challenge. Ranking well in that race meant everything to me. I had to do it for Dad. “Look, I’ll pay you whatever you ask. Just make room for me in your schedule.”
He cleared his throat as if uncomfortable with my suggestion. “As tempting as that is, I can’t cancel someone else’s appointment. People are counting on me, and I have my reputation to consider.”
“Maybe you don’t know who I am, but I’ll compensate you well if you—”
“Easton, I know exactly who you are. I looked you up.” There was silence for several moments as he waited for that to register. “I would love the extra money, believe me, but I have too much integrity to bump someone else off the list just because you can pay more. I called as a courtesy to let you know I’m free tomorrow, but if you can’t make it…”
“I’ll come. Can we get an early start? I have to be back at my office by three.”
“Sure, not a problem.”
I ironed out the details with him and then made another call, chartering a plane to Texas. I would be cutting it close, but I’d make it in time to go with Maya to her appointment. I just had to keep track of the time.
That evening, I downloaded SermonAudio, the app Maya had suggested, and then looked through the list of speakers. There were a lot, and I didn’t recognize anyone’s name, not that I expected to. Maya had mentioned she enjoyed studying Romans eight, so I found that chapter and noticed there were sermons for every single verse. I decided to pick one later and listen to it when I was on the plane.
I opened my Bible and read the full chapter, stopping at verse twenty-six. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
I stared at the page for a long time before sighing and putting my Bible down. It was true, I didn’t know what to pray for, and if I did, I wasn’t sure I would have the guts to follow through. I knew my status before the Lord wasn’t right, but I didn’t know how to correct it or get past those feelings of uneasiness. God, show me how to please you. I don’t know how.
I bit down on my bottom lip, not wanting to face the truth about myself. Enough of this. It was time to move on to something else. But even as I willed myself to think on other things, I felt a tugging at my heart, so strong I couldn’t ignore it, but so gentle, it seemed as if the One doing the tugging was more patient than anyone I’d ever encountered.
He wasn’t done with me yet. Thank goodness for that.
***
The next day I rose early and took a chartered plane to Texas to meet with Darren Finley. As Darren had been a top competitor in the Warrior Obstacle Challenge, he was one of the few strength and conditioning coaches I trusted to advise me. We could have done a video chat, but this race was too important to me to exert a half-hearted effort, and I owed it to Dad to give this thing my all. We had to talk in person. That was all there was to it.
After I landed, I took a rental car to his house since he had a mini obstacle course set up in his backyard. He’d previously told me that was the best place for him to instruct me, and I trusted his judgment. I knocked on his front door and stepped back.
The door swung open. “Hey, Easton. Glad you made it.”
“Me too. I’m excited to get started.”
I’d dressed in gray sweats with a matching gray hoodie, and he wore similar attire, but he had dark circles under his eyes and looked exhausted.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He smiled sheepishly and ran his hand over his face. “Babies are hard work.”
“I bet.” I had no experience with that, but I imagined it was difficult.
He gestured for me to follow him into the house, and it appeared as if a tornado had come through and tossed