Carpe diem, or “seize the day,” as it’s often translated in English, is a phrase I first heard as a high school student. I thought it was an exciting motto, but also thought it felt a bit daunting: as if each day was either “seized” by doing something big and amazing, or it was lost—a failure.
It was later in life, as an adult whose walk with Jesus had matured, that I better understood what carpe diem could look like if applied to my faith. For a believer, seizing the day looks less like grand acts and more like running a steady race—being faithful in the small things and following the Spirit to bring light and love wherever we are called.
I recently saw “the believer’s definition” of carpe diem demonstrated in the five days of Ride for Missions (RFM). Each morning, forty-two cyclists—ranging from ages 13 to 80—rose, went out, and rode their bicycles an average of 75 miles. Their efforts as a group raised over $110,500 in support of Rosedale International’s (RI) missions around the globe!
But as impressive as that total is, what stood out to me was the way each rider seized on unique moments when the Spirit led. They shared the purpose of RFM with strangers, shared personal testimonies, and prayed with people they’d just met. They seized the day one mile at a time—encouraging each other through the heat and exhaustion, focusing on the truest pursuit of life, and being Jesus to the world around them.
While Rosedale Network’s finest athletes were biking across Maryland and Delaware, a slightly larger athletic event was also taking place. At breakfast and dinner, our RFM group took time to tune in to the Olympics and see how these amazing athletes were doing.
While the athleticism on display was incredible, I was blown away by the Olympians who took their moments in the spotlights to give glory to God. My favorite example of this was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an American athlete who broke her own world record in the 400-meter hurdle to win the gold.
A two-time Olympian—the best at what she does—pointed her audience away from herself and toward Jesus.
In the press interview following her race, she said, “I credit all that I do to God. He’s given me a gift, He’s given me a drive…I have a platform, and I want to use it to glorify Him. Whenever I step on the track, [I pray], God, let me be the vessel through which you’re glorified whatever what the result is—how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform. Regardless of what happens, He’s going to get the praise through me.” A two-time Olympian—the best at what she does—pointed her audience away from herself and toward Jesus. Talk about seizing the day!
In recent months, I too have felt the Spirit prompting me to seize the day. My role at RI gives me the privilege of connecting with Rosedale Network congregations all over the nation. Years have passed since some of your churches have been visited by an RI representative, and I wanted to change that. On September 1st, my family embarks on a month-long journey across the plains and western states, with plans to visit a dozen Rosedale Network congregations along the way.
In addition to this adventure, I set a goal for myself—to run a personal 5k every day, no matter the weather. By doing so, I hope to raise $20,000 to purchase a much-needed vehicle for RI’s Short-Term Programs.
One day as I was training and preparing to depart for this fall tour, I listened to Crowder’s new song. The lyrics read, “Got me wondering what I’m chasing/…what on earth am I doing?” These lyrics really struck me, reminding me to stay focused on bringing the presence of Jesus to my work, my personal life, and this 5k. I look forward to visiting so many of you and worshipping with the body of Christ in eight different states this month. I look forward to seeing parts of the country I have never been before. And I look forward to faithfully running 5k every day. I want to seize the day in each community we visit and, following the example of my RFM crew, I want to tell those I interact with about my Jesus and how good He is.
I encourage you to think about what you are chasing. I pray you will follow the Spirit’s lead to seize the day through both big opportunities—like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone—and small opportunities—like our RFM riders. We never know how our interactions with strangers, the love we show, or the kindness we give to others may point the way to Christ.
As I run my 5k every day, I invite you to join me! You can find daily updates on my Instagram account (@mtbaker79) or on RI’s social media channels. If you’d like to join me on my run when I am in your area, shoot me an email at mike@rosedaleinternational.org. To find my schedule or donate toward my goal, visit rosedaleinternational.org/5k/. Let’s do this together—carpe diem!
“- [DASH]” words and music by Ben Glover, David Crowder, Jeff Sojka, Louie Giglio, and Toby McKeehan
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