6 & 7

The glorious, long-awaited weekend is about underway. I’ve put a bit of thought into how I’d like it to run its course. I hope to relish in these objectives.

SLEEP IN. Sleeping in means 6:30 these days because I’ve officially become a morning person! I have my husband’s early work start and our pup’s beckoning for a walk around the 5 o’clock hour to thank. And I’m thankful, really. I’ve always wanted to be a morning person.

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES. The Nikon my husband got me for my last birthday has been seriously neglected. Maybe I haven’t been getting out enough. That will change this weekend. I’m going to get out and capture creation. This leads me to the next bullet…

GET OUT. I get out. I take Romero for extensive walks and scoot on over to the beach down the street and run errands and hit up restaurants with my husband. But I’m in serious need of adventure. Dave and I have a plan to make this happen.

MOVE. I exercise….casually. I really do need to exercise more intently. Do you ever have the inkling to scramble up a tree or run as fast as your legs will carry you through wooded trails? This is what I’m talking about.

DON’T CLEAN. At least, I don’t want to stress over cleaning. If things aren’t perfectly in their place, I find myself deeply disturbed. Beginning when I was in junior high, I could not bring myself to do any homework until my room was pristine. Regrettably, this is still a part of me. Admittedly, I find this taking a toll on my time with God. I will clean and organize and straighten for hours before cracking open my Bible or falling to my knees. It’s utterly ridiculous and embarrassing. This is something I’m learning to let go, by the grace of God.

TALK. A spark has begun again. A spark has begun and I can’t let it die. I yearn for it to become a blazing campfire and more. I want people to know of this Love that found me long ago. Living as an example is no longer sufficient. Hoping they see my “happiness” and mostly joyful attitude will not save their souls. How will they know if I do not say? Why wait for a convenient conversation to arise? About all of this I am praying and seeking and fervently. I want to talk. And I want my words to be worth it. And to be that, they must not be mine.

Jotting down my weekend goals has turned into writing of my life ambition! Ultimately, I want to live and move and be one with His Spirit. I want to be grateful always. I want to pray without ceasing. I want to draw closer and closer to who He is and reflect this to the surrounding world. When I’m taking a picture of a magnificent Okinawa sunset, I pray I can see His splendor. When I’m running down a path atop one of the capes, may I deeply know from where that joy derives. More than anything, I want to be willing to do anything for the bringing of His Kingdom. This world is but a shadow.

I’ll Run Again Tomorrow

It’s been a struggle, a humbling experience to say the least. I’ve been working out quite vigorously to try to lose those silly fifteen pounds that I’ve gained this past year. Trust me, thirty pounds would have been worth gaining for the people, visions, sights, and miracles. Either way, I’ve been working out so that  I can work out. I’ve been running those horrifically sluggish 2.8 mile runs so that in time, I can run like this guy or something…

My mile time is just a few digits higher than Roger’s brilliant dash. No matter how much I increase my stride, try to maintain pristine cadence, or tackle some impulse sprints, I can’t seem to break that time. It’s killing me, but I have to accept the fact that I’ve experienced a physical backslide. I’ve got to keep on going again and again, and yet again to surmount this feat.

As my kicks were scurrying around the neighboring neighborhood early this morning, I made a simple discovery. I’ve known it all along and have encountered this revelation many breath-heavy instances before. Today, it all made much more sense. I’ve got to keep going. I’ve got to keep running, but I’ve also got to keep at it in every other sense.

On account of resting in Christ, loving those around me, being diligent in prayer, keeping close communion with the Holy Spirit, and everything else.

I’ve known this. You’ve known this.

May we keep going again and again, and yet again. May we not lose heart because of our current circumstances, for He holds it all. May we not be discouraged when we fail to meet a standard, because He has set us free from regulation. May we not beat ourselves up for making the same mistake again. Starting over is definitely alright. He’s taking us from glory to glory.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  -2 Corinthians 3:17-18

I really do love running and look forward to the day when I can once again tackle an enjoyable few hours on a Saturday morning. Tomorrow, I shoot for just fifteen seconds faster. Heck, I’m just going to run again.