I can't believe the race is almost here. We have been training for almost 3 months now for this triathlon. Amazing! People always said time goes by faster when you get older...well it certainly flies by when you are training for a triathlon. The finish line seemed so far away when we started...just a far away blur that almost seemed unattainable. I think that is how life is sometimes too. We think about the future but we get lost in the day to day of life and forget about the finish line. Ahhh...the finish line. I am excited about it going for it. This is why we have been getting up way too early in the mornings to slip on clothes with your eyes barely open to head out the door and make your body start working before your mind has even started to think clearly. Early morning swims of easing myself into the cold water throwing my body into complete shock and dreading those first couple of laps, and early morning runs running with my knees screaming "what are you doing" aren't the most fun times of my life, but I am so thankful for them. I have seen results which makes it worth it. Mind you I am not the fastest swimmer or runner by any means, but I have improved my time and endurance. It makes you feel so good and really strong. With biking I have to say that I have not really ridden a bike since I was around 10 years old and had a major bike accident where I was trying to be all daring and cool (and stupid - but I didn't realize this until I was lying in pain on the side of the road) and I totalled my bike as well as myself. But I have moved on and through this training have made up with the bike. I actually really enjoy it. I probably won't go do any stupid things again like think that bump in the middle of a humongous hill would be fun to hit. (Oy...what was I thinking!). Anyways, like I was saying....all of this is so worth it for that finish line. Of course I can tell you more when I actually get there, but truly the journey is just as important as the race.
The verses in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 really came alive to me during this training. I have read them many times, but to actually be training for a race gives them a new meaning. We are to run in such a way as to get the prize. You and me both know for the race, I am not going to be crossing the finish line first (or second, or third). But I am still supposed to run the race to get the prize. My prize is finishing the race and feeling like I did the best I could along the way. Same goes for life...that is my goal - to finish well and have lived in such a way that I did the best I could to bring glory to God and make a difference in other people's lives. You know, all of us in life are going to hit the finish line; however, not all of us are training for it. Verse 25 says everyone who competes goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that won't last but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. That's what I am going for ultimately...my eternal crown; I don't want one that fades. But I can't just expect it to fall into my lap, I have to train for it. You know after one of the recent Super Bowls I heard an interview with Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots, after winning his third (or so) Super Bowls. He said, "is this it? is this all there is?" Wow, it really hit me to think that people work their whole life to accomplish something that seems at the top of their game, but when they get there, they learn that it doesn't really satisfy. Who wants to get to the end of their life and say "that's it. that's all life was about." Instead I want to make each day count. Live with purpose each day.
I wanted to do this triathlon for several reasons, but one was to train myself physically so I can also train myself spiritually to be more disciplined especially as I prepare to move to Thailand. There is a lot of value in doing both together. I can't just show up at the race and expect to accomplish my goal. Could you imagine...I would drown in the first 15 minutes of the swim. So as vs 26 says, I don't run like a man running aimlessly. I have a goal and I work each day to accomplish it. It's hard. Some days I love it. But some days I just dread it. Who likes discipline? But overall I keep my eyes on the prize and persevering through it all is an amazing feeling of accomplishment. Each step you take in life, each struggle you go through, and each milestone you accomplish all work to get you to the end result. I know in Thailand some days will be extremely tough and I will want to quit, but if that is where God has me then even though it's tough I don't want to be anywhere else.
Physical discipline has some value but spiritual discipline is invaluable. Spending time communicating with this amazing God who loves me and has a purpose for me. Wow! How incredible is that. I love spending time reading His Words of love, His Words of guidance in how to live, and what life is all about. I truly could go on and on about this but will save it for another post or individual conversations if you like. But to take Him for granted is a shame. It's like having the most perfect man in my life who wants to spend time with me and then just totally shafting him to go do my own thing, which in the end doesn't even begin to compare to the time I would have spent with him. It's the same with God but so much better. And spiritual discipline is not just because we are supposed to do it. That doesn't please God. It's because we want to do it. God has so much for us. His prize is so much more than we can even imagine. Think about that. What can you imagine that is great? Well it doesn't even begin to compare to what God has for you! I want to know this amazing God more! How can He love me? How can He forgive the things I have done? But He does. I don't fully understand it, but I believe it. And I want to know this God more.
So I am competing in the triathlon this weekend and am totally stoked! I am even thinking about doing another one after this. But I am also in another race...the journey of life and I will compete in such a way that I will win the prize. And yes, that means training for it and sometimes I love it but sometimes I just have to make myself do it, because I know it's important and will help me attain my goal. So run the race with me. If you don't feel like you can do a triathlon...which you totally could...Fit2Train is awesome at taking you from doing little to doing a lot! And it's fun too. But if you don't feel that you can do something like that, at least run the race in life and make each step be with purpose! (Thanks for anyone who actually reads my babbling!...Jen)
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