An Exercise in Futility?
Hey Girls! I am writing from the computer here at Dunn Bros Coffee. I love coming here. I love the mellow music, the smell of coffee, the chatting of friends, and the clicking of laptops. It is one of my happy places. I came here to read for a while, but my heart kept tugging me over to the computer so here I am. I confess, something about this atmosphere makes me feel like a real writer. I try to act all brooding and such so I can fit the part of struggling, aspiring, tormented writer. It just doesn't work that well......it's hard to brood when you've got the joy of the Lord inside you! Oh well, I have already put in my fair share of brooding, Meredith Brooks singing days.....I much prefer wearing pink lip gloss and trying to help other people smile.......
I went for a run at the gym this morning. It was the first run in a long time. I have been doing some hard workouts lately, but I haven't been running. It never ceases to amaze me how hard it is to run after not doing so for a long time. There I was, running like a hamster in a wheel, trying to imagine myself anywhere but where I was. I tried to close my eyes a couple of times, and picture myself running somewhere exotic, but that whole running to one side thing that I told you about last spring caused me to bump into the side rail and just about fly off. Not in the mood to end up on America's Funniest Home Videos, I decided to keep my eyes open the remainder of the time. I put the i-pod on Third Day and Cried out to Jesus that the 3.1 miles would fly by. It didn't.
As I ran on the treadmill, I thought about how many areas of my life resemble treadmill running. For those of you who have never run on a treadmill, let me just tell you, it is somewhat daunting. You move your legs as fast as you can so you do fly off the back....... you sweat........ your heart pounds.......... you fight to the finish......but in the end you are still in exactly the same place you were when you started. Sure, the computer read out says I have gone 3.1 miles, but that feel good moment last but a moment. You have no scenery to marvel at (unless you consider the old guy in the spandex bike shorts and tank top with really hairy arms scenery). You have no feelings of being on a journey. There is no "enjoying the ride" as you move forward.
It often feels like my faith, my marriage, my parenting, and most of all my eating, are all done treadmill style. I work really hard, but it often seems like I am still in the exact same place. Sometimes I feel like the only "exercise" I have truly mastered is the exercise in futility. It seems like I work really hard, just to remain in the same place. I never really have any results. There is no forward progress.
However, it is important to understand that though it may feel like we are exercising in futility, we are not. We are progressing. We are gaining ground. We are a little better each day.....as long as we don't give up. Every time I run, my time is a little different. Some days I am faster than others. Other days I even have to take a break and walk for a minute. I do however, always get to my 3.1 miles.....as long as I don't quit! The only way I fail to log my miles is if I step off, and walk away.
It is also important to realize that even when it doesn't feel like it, the small steps we take each day, do lead to something more. If I didn't do my 3.1 miles every once in a while, there is no way I could train for a half marathon this spring. If I didn't continually work on my relationships with my kids and husband, I will never have the relationships I desire to have with them. Some days it seems like I am working on these areas at a 10% incline (treadmill lingo), and I am going to slide off the back into a lump on the floor. However, if I just keep moving, I will be able to look back and see that I have in fact gained some ground. Out of nowhere Tom will give me a hug, a good "I really do love you" kind of a hug. I will walk in to my sons room, and it will be spotless....without me asking him to clean it. One morning I will feel the presence of the Lord so strong I burst into tears. These are all rewards for the miles we log into our lives each day. They are "mile markers" letting us know we are still on the right path....and if we don't quit.....we will see it to the finish.
So Girls, if you feel like the only exercise you have mastered is an exercise in futility.....if you feel like your whole life is running treadmill style.......don't lose heart. You may not feel like it, but you are gaining ground! Every painful, heart pounding, sweaty mile you log into your life now, will be rewarded! Just keep moving those legs. Everything is going to be just fine. Not only do I promise you that....but so does the Lord.....and His promises never fail!
Philippians 2:16 Hold firmly to the work of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.........see He says our work is not useless!
Love you all (that's the easiest part of my day)
Jen
I went for a run at the gym this morning. It was the first run in a long time. I have been doing some hard workouts lately, but I haven't been running. It never ceases to amaze me how hard it is to run after not doing so for a long time. There I was, running like a hamster in a wheel, trying to imagine myself anywhere but where I was. I tried to close my eyes a couple of times, and picture myself running somewhere exotic, but that whole running to one side thing that I told you about last spring caused me to bump into the side rail and just about fly off. Not in the mood to end up on America's Funniest Home Videos, I decided to keep my eyes open the remainder of the time. I put the i-pod on Third Day and Cried out to Jesus that the 3.1 miles would fly by. It didn't.
As I ran on the treadmill, I thought about how many areas of my life resemble treadmill running. For those of you who have never run on a treadmill, let me just tell you, it is somewhat daunting. You move your legs as fast as you can so you do fly off the back....... you sweat........ your heart pounds.......... you fight to the finish......but in the end you are still in exactly the same place you were when you started. Sure, the computer read out says I have gone 3.1 miles, but that feel good moment last but a moment. You have no scenery to marvel at (unless you consider the old guy in the spandex bike shorts and tank top with really hairy arms scenery). You have no feelings of being on a journey. There is no "enjoying the ride" as you move forward.
It often feels like my faith, my marriage, my parenting, and most of all my eating, are all done treadmill style. I work really hard, but it often seems like I am still in the exact same place. Sometimes I feel like the only "exercise" I have truly mastered is the exercise in futility. It seems like I work really hard, just to remain in the same place. I never really have any results. There is no forward progress.
However, it is important to understand that though it may feel like we are exercising in futility, we are not. We are progressing. We are gaining ground. We are a little better each day.....as long as we don't give up. Every time I run, my time is a little different. Some days I am faster than others. Other days I even have to take a break and walk for a minute. I do however, always get to my 3.1 miles.....as long as I don't quit! The only way I fail to log my miles is if I step off, and walk away.
It is also important to realize that even when it doesn't feel like it, the small steps we take each day, do lead to something more. If I didn't do my 3.1 miles every once in a while, there is no way I could train for a half marathon this spring. If I didn't continually work on my relationships with my kids and husband, I will never have the relationships I desire to have with them. Some days it seems like I am working on these areas at a 10% incline (treadmill lingo), and I am going to slide off the back into a lump on the floor. However, if I just keep moving, I will be able to look back and see that I have in fact gained some ground. Out of nowhere Tom will give me a hug, a good "I really do love you" kind of a hug. I will walk in to my sons room, and it will be spotless....without me asking him to clean it. One morning I will feel the presence of the Lord so strong I burst into tears. These are all rewards for the miles we log into our lives each day. They are "mile markers" letting us know we are still on the right path....and if we don't quit.....we will see it to the finish.
So Girls, if you feel like the only exercise you have mastered is an exercise in futility.....if you feel like your whole life is running treadmill style.......don't lose heart. You may not feel like it, but you are gaining ground! Every painful, heart pounding, sweaty mile you log into your life now, will be rewarded! Just keep moving those legs. Everything is going to be just fine. Not only do I promise you that....but so does the Lord.....and His promises never fail!
Philippians 2:16 Hold firmly to the work of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.........see He says our work is not useless!
Love you all (that's the easiest part of my day)
Jen
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