Taking Baby Steps - Mark

As I shared in my previous post, I ran the Pgh. Marathon on May 6th.  I decided to take two weeks off from training and relax.  Wow!  It is amazing how quickly your body loses its fitness.  I went out this week to start to do some light running, and it seemed so difficult.  I heard the voices...."Take some more time for yourself.  You deserve it." 

".....Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance..."
You can't give into that voice.  Maybe you want to lose 30 pounds.  Maybe you want to reduce your television viewing.  Maybe you have a big project around the house staring you in the face.  Maybe you've been saying you'll become more regular with your quiet time.  However, you hear the voice...."Take some more time for yourself.  You deserve it."

I take baby steps.  I start small to get to big results.  That first day out the door this week I ran two miles.  That should be nothing when you are used to hitting 50-55 miles in a week while training for the marathon.  But like I said, it seemed particularly difficult.  I didn't dwell on the fact that it felt hard.  I focused on the fact that I did it.  I draw on my experience, and I know that in three or four weeks I'll be back to 6-8 mile runs.  So in small increments I increase my level of training.  We can do the same with those areas staring us in the face that I mentioned above.  Remember, the Saints are cheering for you.

I imagine in Kenya that life is difficult.  Pastor Glaze, who is my Pastor, went to Kenya and spent time with the Cassell family a few years ago, and he shares that it was an eye opening experience being in the bush without any of the amenities that he is used to having here in the United States.  Getting drinking water, taking a shower, food preparation without refridgeration are all a challenge, and I'm sure I'll have my eyes opened too.  I imagine that I'll be shocked at how much I've taken for granted living in a developed country.

Pastor Glaze also shared that the believers in Kenya had a great joy, and thankful hearts, and that their fellowship with him lifted his spirit and deepened his faith.  I look forward to that becoming true for myself.  Didn't I say it kind of seems selfish to want to go?  I guess I need to see it as a launching pad.  I suppose if I kept all the lessons I learn there to myself, then it would be selfish.  I have to come home, ready to share and ready to serve with a renewed passion.

It's that way with my running too.  As I embark on getting ready for the Harrisburg Marathon, I have to recapture the passion.  I have to refocus myslef on the goal.   After I ran my first marathon in 2000 I set a goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  It is the only marathon in the world that you have to run a qualifying time to be able to enter it.  In my age group (55-59) I would have to run 3:44:59 to get a qualifying time.  The fastest marathon I have run is around 3 hours and 55 minutes, and that was eight years ago.  I haven't given up, but it does seem as though it is slipping away.  But today I met a fellow runner.  Her first name is Claudia. I have known her for several years now.  About three years ago she went through a two-year period where she fought one injury after another, and it was difficult for her to press on.  Well, she shared that she kicked it in Pittsburgh and ran a 4 hour marathon.  I believe she is my age or even a little older.  She doesn't look it though.  The Lord used it to encourage me.  Don't lose heart.  Refocus and rededicate yourself, and I suppose that is true for my spiritual walk as well.  I know the "race marked out" for me is to be an "Ambassador of Reconciliation."  (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)  I must keep my eyes "fixed on Jesus" and allow him to lead me, but more about that in my next post.

So if you are thinking about joining with us financially, I put in 8 miles this week.   That's only 8 cents, but I will build on that.  There will be 50 mile weeks to come.  Each week I'll update my total miles trained.  By the way, I walk 40-50 miles a week as well, but we aren't counting those miles.

Prayer Request:  That I will be passionate in my training for the marathon in my ministry of reconciliation, and that our family will grow closer together as we continue down this path toward Kenya.