A Journey in Simplicity: Living at the Right Pace

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This last Saturday I ran hills with a friend and stellar athlete. I begged and begged until she brought me along on her running adventure. When we arrived to run I felt like a little puppy all hyped up on nothing but happy thoughts and naivete. It didn't last too long. Just about 3 minutes into the run it all set in, running with someone way more conditioned than me was one thing- running with that same individual up hills (aka mountains) is just out of this world insane. I had no idea what she meant when she said, "want to come running in the forest? I'll pick you up tomorrow". Only about 2 minutes after we started heading up the trails I chocked out, "how much further do you think it is to the top?" My running buddy (aka. Flash Gordon) turned around and smiled not even slightly out of breath- "I'm not a very good judge of distance" she said, and that was that.

Uhhhh, so twenty feet, thirty...nope, nothing that meager- it was a good ways up. Up and up we ran for at least a mile-and-a-half, at a speed quicker than I thought possible. We got to the top and I knew that there was no way I would have kept running if I had known how far it was at the bottom. I don't know that I would have gotten out of  my warm bed had I known what was coming. The run down was ecstasy, fed by the pure delight of knowing I had worked for that down-hill with every breath and leg transforming into jell-o stride that I had taken on the way up. I loved every second, of the downhill that is. The course set out flat for a while and I again was just happy to be there, thinking it was over-completely clueless again.

Before I can say "holy atomic pile, Batman!" she silently merges toward where I know to be another mountain (by the way she calls them "hills" I must say this is very inaccurate!) even as we took that first turn in the direction of another battle my legs drained of blood and I just about fell to the path clutching something-ANYTHING to get me out of this one. But no, on and on we went. She told me to lead so I could go at my pace. But being prideful as I am I didn't slow much, I didn't want her to really know how I was dying and never take me anywhere "fun" again! Up and up, turn after turn-I tell her to take the lead again since I feel I am pushing to hard and then she turns around and tells me "we can walk whenever you need to", I smile and say, "I'm not gonna want to walk" and two seconds later I do. I don't just walk, but I stop and puke up the banana that I forced myself to eat for breakfast at the ungodly hour when my tummy was not yet open for business!

This friend of mine, Flash, she is a good friend and she felt so bad that she asked if we should head back down. Why didn't I jump at the chance? I must be part nuts too. I wanted to push on-"slower this time" I said, "but I want to make it to the top". We did, and then I got to enjoy the downhill.

Nothing too exciting happens after that. I make it to the end and live to tell the tale. But the reason I bring all this up is because for me running is one of those things that makes me think about my spiritual walk, and God taught me several things that day. I think I should know what is coming up, know how to lead, jump ahead and take the course and get it over with but pace is everything taking it just at the right speed so as not to miss out (or loose your lunch). It is just the way God works in us to not emphasize exactly the timing or quality of our difficulties (our mountains), our joy, or our sorrow. He looks at us as he leads us up the mountain the whole time judging just how fast we should go and says, "just a little further" not because to us it is a small distance, but because He knows we can make it and conquer what He has set for us to overcome! When I set my own pace in life things may appear to be fine, I may even try to pretend sometimes that they are but that is when my pace gets all out of whack and it may cost the victory of that battle if I don't take a step back and let His pace settle back into my life. He knows just how to push us to develop those muscles, that endurance and the character that He wants to see in us.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own  understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths" Proverbs 3: 5+6

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it". Hebrews 12:11

PS. I haven't eaten another banana since! Eeek! And I am not a huge wimp- we did run 8 miles that day, half of it up pretty steep hills. You try it!

I'd love to hear where God is taking you. I can't wait to hear!

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If you are just tuning in now to the simplicity posts and are interested in joining us be sure and check out my other posts about this voyage:

A Journey in Simplicity

Starting Out
Fasting for Simplification and Re-Sensitization
The Moment of Truth
Breaking Bad Habits
Why We'll Never Be Content With What We Have