Runner's Journal
Okay, so I went on my holidays and was looking at photos of myself and thought, “dude, you gotta lose some weight”. Then we took my cat, Louise, to the vet and even she is overweight. Between us we weighed 271 lbs. Okay, maybe I should try dieting. Nope, I’ll be eating donuts in 3 days. Vegetarianism? Nope, I don’t hate plants enough to kill them. My problem was solved because Deana had signed us up for a running course. She may be after the insurance money. Anyway, now I’m a runner, of sorts, and along with about 45 other people we run every week.
The first week we ran for 30 seconds and walked quickly for 4.5 minutes, and we did this 8 times in total. Sounds easy, but tell that to my heart, lungs, legs, brain etc. I’m glad I’m a person of faith because I thought I saw Jesus coming for me. It was the headlights of a car. Note: run on the sidewalk. My son came running with me and can talk and breathe and run for 20 minutes solid. I told him to try putting his sister on his back and then keep up with me. Now, thirty seconds doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was the next 45 seconds it took for my belly to stop shaking. That was a killer. We’re up to 3 minute increments this week, and I don’t feel like I’m gonna die anymore, but the goal of running for 5 km straight seems so far off.
Faith is like this. Some of us carry a load of hurt, disappointment, the pain of abuse or rejection, and we try to keep our faith in God strong, but it’s really hard. So many of our friends stumble under that weight, and they struggle so hard just to keep their feet planted on the ground. Some of us get really impatient and we want to put on new runners and think we can just start running full out. We push for the end run, and get discouraged because we can’t maintain the momentum. For some of us we don’t get why people can’t have faith because we fail to walk in their shoes. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:28-30, Message). Our running coach, Cherie, tells us every week that it will get easier. Just take it one step at a time. Good advice for runners and good advice for people trying to exercise their faith. As for Louise? She’s on a diet.
The first week we ran for 30 seconds and walked quickly for 4.5 minutes, and we did this 8 times in total. Sounds easy, but tell that to my heart, lungs, legs, brain etc. I’m glad I’m a person of faith because I thought I saw Jesus coming for me. It was the headlights of a car. Note: run on the sidewalk. My son came running with me and can talk and breathe and run for 20 minutes solid. I told him to try putting his sister on his back and then keep up with me. Now, thirty seconds doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was the next 45 seconds it took for my belly to stop shaking. That was a killer. We’re up to 3 minute increments this week, and I don’t feel like I’m gonna die anymore, but the goal of running for 5 km straight seems so far off.
Faith is like this. Some of us carry a load of hurt, disappointment, the pain of abuse or rejection, and we try to keep our faith in God strong, but it’s really hard. So many of our friends stumble under that weight, and they struggle so hard just to keep their feet planted on the ground. Some of us get really impatient and we want to put on new runners and think we can just start running full out. We push for the end run, and get discouraged because we can’t maintain the momentum. For some of us we don’t get why people can’t have faith because we fail to walk in their shoes. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:28-30, Message). Our running coach, Cherie, tells us every week that it will get easier. Just take it one step at a time. Good advice for runners and good advice for people trying to exercise their faith. As for Louise? She’s on a diet.
2 Comments:
ahh well faith is abit of an exercise isnt it? exercising (for those who havent for awhile) can zap the strenght..as spiritual fatigue and worldly business zap the joy of the Lord. We can begin to wonder if its all really worth it. Is the exercise really a benefit? Yes...commit yourself for awhile and it will get easier. Can faith be rejuvenated when spiritual weariness threatens to overcome? Yes...as David longed for deliverance " I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart" (Psalm 38:8) If we have just enough energy to cry out ...Jesus said " Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me (John 14:1)There have been times where I have been weary that all I could do was cry, no person could help me though they might have been good to lean on...God just never lets us down...he is the perfect trainer! So when my heart grows heavy, when my body is tired and spirits low I turn to God because I know He will help me out..."Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.(Isaiah 12:2). So yes in Jesus we find rest..strength for today and hope for tomorrow. And that diet thing..ya that will always be a challenge..but when u feast on the Lord things are bound to look up!
R & D - great stuff! and Sharon - great comment too! :)
I think the best image that I have had of what faith is; is this...
Faith is like someone stranded on a mountain ledge in the pouring rain and fog surrounding you (meaning, its freezing cold out - and you can't see)- they are stuck there - but then, they have a choice to stay stuck there and freeze to death or they have the choice to jump to another near by ledge where there is shelter from the pouring down rain... You can either step out in faith - believing that you will make it and survive through the night - or you can have no faith and stay stuck and freeze to death. I know its not the "best" illistration. but its the one that has always stuck out to me - because thats how I see faith as - just doing something even though you can't really see, or know what the out come will be...
Michelle :)
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