I have been thinking a lot about this lately. As I mentioned in my previous post I am attempting a "new beginning" with exercise and diet. In the past two weeks I have lost 9 lbs and I am beyond thrilled with that number. I started thinking yesterday about the weight and how, as I have gained it, it has hindered me from doing things and made things uncomfortable. If I were to fly right now, I would probably be downright uncomfortable in the seat. I went to an Atlanta Braves game a few weeks ago- the seats were a tad uncomfortable and tight. Having lost weight before it's amazing the difference in life's day to day living it makes. And yet, I continued to let myself eat and become lazy and gained all the weight back. I didn't run that race with perseverance. I didn't endure...
So, then I started thinking about the verse and what it means to me and I came across the above picture in my memory. This is a picture at Delphi where they used to run the races. One of the "stories" (aka history lessons) they gave us was that back in the biblical times- when they ran the races the Greeks often ran them naked (or very close to that point) in order to not have anything hindering them from running a race well.
In my personal journey I keep hearing over and over - it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. Simply put- it's not going to be quick and easy. It's going to be something that is going to tax me, use all that I have to complete the race, it's something to be trained for, to work toward, and to keep our eye on the goal. The Christian life is never going to be easy and I pray that I can identify those sins which weigh me down/burden me and lay them aside so I can run this race with perseverance.
A little something to leave you with-
Charles Spurgeon once commented on this passage:
"In those games, those who ran and wrestled wore very little clothing, or often nothing at all. A runner might lose the race through being entangled by his scarf, so he laid aside everything that might hinder or hamper him. Oh, for that blessed consecration to our heavenly calling, by which everything that would hinder us shall be put aside, that we may give ourselves, disentangled, to the great gospel to race!" (source)
6 comments:
First, congrats on the weight loss. I am sooooooo proud of you. Second, you wrote a good post here with some good thoughts. Keep running oldest daughter. You will make it.
Your mention of naked Greeks (smile) reminded me of when Elijah "girded up his loins" and then started running. It was the custom to pull the bottom of their robes up between the legs and tuck it into their "belt" when working or doing other things where the long robe would hinder them.
I tried to comment on your daughters blog but it’s not possible because I don’t have a Google account and I am not intended to get one as long as it is necessary. I do like her post though. It’s amazing she lost that much weight and I liked the parallel she made with the scripture and her life. -From Ani. (You can check her whole comment on my blog).
Herb- Thanks for the comment- made me smile early this morning! I remember hearing that also. There's a reason why I don't like wearing skirts to teach in- they do hinder!
Robin- good to "meet" you too. I try to look at life as a journey on a daily basis. The ultimate destination is heaven and that's when the true living can begin :)
Ani- I don't know how to fix it so that it doesn't require a google acct (but I'll look more at it). It may be as simple as changing my comment format. I try to learn so much from my day to day struggles and can see so many parallels between life and the Bible. Thanks for the love all!
Congrats on the weight loss. My wife is someone who has literally went through a transformation over the last year. It truly has been an amazing thing to witness and see.
Thanks Michael- congrats to your wife too (April right?)
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