Well, these skeletons might not be as dusty as the title implies but...sharing from the heart at any rate. Nick and I have a desperate desire to be runners. There, I said it. Operative phrase - "desperate desire." But how is this desire manifested? Well, often in our thoughts as we sit on the couch after a long day of work and discuss the Runner's World article we just read - and how one day we'll relate to that (after a bag of munchies and maybe a cookie)! Hehe. Well, don't misunderstand, when there is ample time to do nothing but run, we do run. It's when life gets busy that we struggle to be who we really want to be.
Tonight we were able to work on our goal together. The day was not as tiring for me as it could have been so by the time Nick got home at 7:00 I had energy to call him - here's the family secret - "runner husband." His desire is to run, my desire is to run, but we get slapped by busyness and hide under a rock, however, we have no excuse.
Case in point: my cousin Carolyn (we love you Carolyn!) is doing her residency right now at the University of Utah hospital. She works long hours - really - like 36 at a time - and runs on little to no sleep. But, she still manages to run oh, you know, 10 to a million miles after a really long day at work because she wants to, because she has to. Nick and I can not complain about busyness in the face of my dear cousin.
Well, on our run tonight I did not have my IPOD which has really become more of an encouragement and charge than I expected. Lord knew He had some words for me. It just made me think - back to calling Nick my "runner husband." (Note: before we left for the park we were fighting between the park & "WipeOut" - thank you people for being brave enough to look completely ridiculous so that we can laugh at you). We made it to the park partly because of the "out loud" encouragement to Nick and subsequently to myself.
Not to get cheesy or make you go "duh," (that is SO 80's) but isn't that why it's so important for us to talk about our faith out loud? To encourage each other in the way of God's Word? How often do we shy away from being open and honest about our faith - especially to other's who claim to believe as we and who WANT to believe as we - who want to be runners.
Those words of encouragement, or reminding about God's hand in our lives is so important to "spur us on" - Hebrews 10: 23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another [spur each other on] in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. And "speaking to one another in psams, hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph 5:19).
I don't know, it just hit me tonight and I thought I'd share - you know it doesn't happen often. So now it makes sense to say: "Christian, brother, Christian sister, how is God working in your life? Where do you see His hand? What has He said to you today?"
Let's not be afraid to say this out loud - for in hearing, others may be reminded, encouraged and spurred on to become one who will "run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24).
5 comments:
You are so right!
well said! I wish I could write like you and inspire people the way you do! Thanks for always being the person in my life who helps me see the way I want to be and how I should live my life. You are one of my "spiritual role models" and I feel lucky to have you in my life!
What wise words! I know that I often shy away from voicing my goals out loud because then I can be held accountable to them...(as I should be) I know you and I have talked about this before, and yet I still struggle with this!
Not sure what the current goal is that I need to voice aloud, but I will tell you what the Lord has been doing...and I guess, what I need Him to continue. Mary Hroch struck the nail on the head when she wrote in her blog about how we tend to pray without ceasing when we are put in a situation that we can do nothing about...only the Lord can do. I have felt that way for much of the last 2 weeks at home with our new little one. I so needed the Lord to help give me strength, peace, and rest. I needed Him to give MD rest and peace. However, now that things are calming down a bit, I have found myself crying out to God out of desperation less...and yet...I still need Him!!! I must remember my complete reliance on Him all the time! Pray without ceasing!
(sorry for the long comment...have missed my Alia time! :) )
You are so wise. I talk about how I used to run and how I used to do this or that. I know that I am doing things now but I cannot live in what I was. My goal...to share Christ with people so they can have the same passion I have for Him. Also, be better than I was. You mean more to me that you'll ever realize. Thanks Alia.
Oh, sweet Alia. How perfectly expressed. You made me think about that one brief second that makes all the difference...when I have to decide whether to keep dreaming about it or get up and do it. (Sigh). Sometimes just one second separates me from my loftiest goals. Thanks for the inspiration to get my duff going.
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