inspiration

So I’ve decided to do a Sprint Triathlon. I’ve wanted to have something that is “mine” and I could pour time and effort into. I just hadn’t decided what it was. My first thought was that I will train for 5 and 10K races (my body is not in fantastic shape and I could use a reason to start running again) but then I remembered. I HATE running. Well nix that idea. I wanted something I would have to use discipline to accomplish. Something that wouldn’t come quickly, but over time would have to be worked and strived for. Something that after the time, sweat, tears and exhaustion I poured into it I could complete and enjoy the satisfaction of finishing. And that’s when it came to me.
I was doing a cycling class at my gym and they started showing clips from Iron Man. Seeing all those people giving there all for this one race was so moving. I know it sounds silly, but when you think about what people have to sacrifice and endure to get their bodies in enough shape to run a full Iron Man it’s pretty ridiculous. There were hundreds of people all ages and ethnicities that were running this race. I watched in amazement wondering what it was that drove them to do this? What about this race was worth the grueling training and discipline that was required to actually finish? The biggest sense of relief and joy burst across their face as they crossed that line and embraced on looking family members and loved ones. They raced to win but even the competition couldn’t overshadow the personal victory of just finishing the race. Other racers, who moments before were opponents, ran to embrace the new racers that crossed the finish line in victory as if to say “Congratulations! You made it! Come celebrate with me!” Competition was forgotten and instead camaraderie over completion was all that was present. My immediate thought was “I could never do that.” And then I started to have a conversation with Jesus as I pedaled on my bike watching the film flicker across the wall.
Why couldn’t you do that? Because it’s physically impossible.
They did it so obviously it’s not. Yes, but I can only imagine the discipline and training they had to enter into to achieve that.
Does it look like it was worth it? Yes.
With me you could do this. Only with my help.
Jesus, you created me, you know I have endurance issues with athletics. (I played defense in soccer because my lungs were never strong enough for forward. I was always a sprint swimmer because I couldn’t handle the long distances. Same story with track.)
Yeah, but I couldn’t.
Exactly. I can. You need to learn discipline and you need to learn what its like to have me do something through you. When you cross that finish line you will know the only reason you got there was because of Me. Let’s do this together. Not necessarily the Iron Man, let’s start off small. I have a lot to teach you through this process. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.
After that conversation I decided that I should definitely give it a try. I went home and signed up for a race in September. It’s the middle of June and I have about 3 months to get in race shape.
So here goes everything…

Triathalon

Well I have done something that I never dreamed I would do. This past weekend I completed my first Sprint Triathlon. Don’t be confused this is not the infamous Iron Man. Take the intensity of Iron Man and divide it by 10 and that’s a Sprint. Small though it is, it is still pretty intense. A sprint includes ½ mile swim (16 laps in a pool), then 14 mile bike, and wrapped up with a nice 3.2 mile run.
I didn’t blog about the experience leading up to the race because I have been so busy, however, I think it has been such a great process so I’m going to break down my experience through several blogs ending with the actual race day. Don’t be confused, I will be writing in present tense even though we both know that the race is over…but for a couple blogs lets pretend its not and you can follow me on this crazy adventure. In the end, my hope is that you will be convinced that doing a sprint triathlon needs to be on your list of things to do…

"Very Doubtful"

I did one of those things I hate.

It's in the category of unrecoverable.

Thankfully only my grandfather saw me, but the mere fact that it happened embarrassed me.

In my defense it was dark outside and I was staying somewhere new for the first time.

But alas, there really isn't a good excuse.

I squinted my eyes to see if the glass door really was shut. It would have made more sense to actually reach my hand out to be extra sure, but then again this is me we are talking about. So, trusting my eyes, which tend to fail me often, I stepped out in faith.

Faith laughed when I ran straight into the closed glass door.

I sighed in embarrassment.

Pop snickered.

I opened the door and wondered if I was ever going to not do stupid stuff like that. If I had a Magic 8 Ball I'm pretty sure it would read "Very Doubtful."

thunder

I felt thunder shake the ground today. I haven’t experienced the sensation of that kind of power in a long time! It came rumbling over the distance and as soon as it hit my ears it also rolled along the ground and trembled underneath my feet. I was blown away. The sound was that great, that strong that the earth beneath me shook. I know I’ve felt thunder before; maybe I was just more aware today. It shook the highway and made my car tremor. It was amazing! In that instance I felt realization, awe and fear all at the same time. The realization that I am so small. Fear because something that is nothing more than a noise could cause the earth to shake and also startle me. Following all of this I was just in awe of God. He thought up the idea of Thunder... I usually think of it as a reaction to the temperature change that happens in storms. But that takes all the creativity out of God. I like to think of thunder as a creative aspect of storms, not a scientific occurrence.
I love laying in bed at night in the summer time and hearing the frequent summer showers coming in. I count the seconds between the claps of thunder and the lightening that sends light tearing into my pitch dark room. Flash….One, two, three, four….BOOM; 4 miles away. Flash…..one, two, three….BOOM; three miles away. This is my favorite way to fall asleep. I just love storms. I feel like its God’s way of reminding us just how big He is. I’m always aware of the Lord’s power during those storms and it gives me a good fear of the Lord and at the same time I’m so aware of his mercy that He doesn’t just blow me away with the leaves.
So here’s looking forward to many more summer rains…

Giant freezers and Running dogs

So I've always viewed myself as a brave person. No real big fears besides the basic gender ones...bugs and anything that could creepy crawl up on me and scare me. Nothing crazy. Pretty normal legit "Um I don't really like that" things. However, the past couple months I have realized I have had some closet fears I was unaware of (hence the word closet)
First, I was visiting my best friend up in D.C. (shout out to Lauren), who I might add probably lives in the coolest house in Arlington (very jealous). I decided to take advantage of my nice vacation time, the beautiful weather, and her relatively safe neighborhood and went for a nice run. Ha, well being that I was out of shape this quickly turned into brisk walk. I admired all the nice families that were out walking...babies...couples. It was like out of a movie. Then I saw what is very normal....someone walking a dog. I smiled....I love dogs. And this is when I realized my secret fear because here was my thought process as the dog grew closer:
aw what a sweet dog. I want a dog someday. Man I would be in great shape if I had one. So sweet.....ummm kinda getting close (dog gets nearer) uhhhhh looking at me funny.....(I start to run on the grass away from the dog)....still really close....(as I pass the dog) DEAR JESUS DON'T BITE ME!! DON'T BITE ME! DON'T BITE ME!!! AHHHHHHHHH.
Sigh of relief after the dog passes. Really?? Where did that come from? I love dogs! But as I ran by the dog and his owner the only thing I could think of was that at any moment he was going to lunge out and take a hunk out of my butt! Then I remembered, in college I had run by a dog and he did lunge out and rip a hole in my pants as he bit my ass. It all came together. I wasn't afraid of dogs...unless I was running with my apparently delicious pants on that dogs cannot resist. So kinda embarrased of that fear but if you ever run with me and we pass a dog I will run in the road and on coming traffic to escape the potential of teeth being sunk into my rear.

Another random fear: I'm a Unit Marketing Director at a Chick-fil-A (blog party foul, but my stories will be better in the future if you understand where I work.) So anyway, we have a HUGE walk in freezer and refridgerator. At first I found these awesome. Totally would want one of these in my house someday. However, when you walk in these the door automatically closes behind you to keep the cold in. The freezer is so cold that one of the managers told me you would probably only keep consciousness for 30 minutes without a coat on.....ehhhh enter fear here. Whenever I go in them (which praise the Lord is very rare) I have a mini anxiety attack. The door seals and closes very tight so you have to push it hard to open it. I'm always afraid the guys I work with who LOVE to mess with me are going to lock me in there. So everytime I try to push open the door my blood pressure rises and breathing increases....I have an adrenaline rush to push open the door and at the same time start praying to the Lord to make my death quick and painless because I ALWAYS fear the door won't open. I breathe a sigh of relief everytime the door does open. I find this amusing because I've never been stuck in there before...and yet everytime I go into a panic attack. I bet anyone watching me come out of the freezer probably laughs because I bet I look like someone running out of a burning building.
Sigh. Silly fears.

Truth

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."
Isaiah 55:8-14

wanderlust

I'm feeling the desire to wander again. My Freshman and Sophomore year in college I spent much of my time wandering.....wandering in different countries....wandering about here in Athens. Just wandering. Thinking. Seeing new things. Exploring. It was a drive I couldn't ignore and it pulled me to some of the most amazing places and experiences I've ever seen. I embraced this desire and went with it. Looking back I'm so very glad I did.
I thought that part of my life was over. An itch I had scratched. Every couple months the itch would come back and demanded to be noticed. So I scratched it and have been so very blessed to have been able to experience all that I have.
For about a year or so now that desire has remained dormant. Maybe due to reality....maybe a little to the rational side of myself that has grown since I was 18. But once again....ever so quietly this time....its whispering again to me.
Go....
See...
Experience...
Feel...
Explore....
Live..
College provided wonderful ways to fulfill this desire through study abroad and trips with friends. God revealed this love for seeing His creation through mission trips and other life experiences.

You ever just get that feeling that if you don't do something you may be missing out on something very significant to who you are and what drives you. That's what I got right now. Something beyond curiosity. I would even go so far as to say design...how and who I've been designed to be by the One who knows best.
The desire to see and feel beauty. To be in awe. To be speechless by what surrounds me in nature.
The drive is back and cannot be ignored.
Now I just need to figure out why it is there....and how to fulfill it and continue to do His will.