Podcast #3 - Medals I recently ran four races in three days and received participation medals for them all. The days were spent with friends, but the focus was on the racing. Or running, since many of us weren't going fast enough to WIN. My brain sees so many bits to share from that experience. I have never been a big athlete. My preferred way to relax is sitting in my garden, puttering a bit there, but usually reading a book – and snacking. I like to sit by our cozy fire and read in the winter months. And snack. And though I have almost always set aside time to do 20-30 minutes of some aerobic activity 3-4 times a week, that level of activity didn't cut the mustard as my snacking continued and my metabolism slowed. So a month before my 59th birthday, in frustration and not really wanting to RUN, so much as wanting to change my body in an efficient time, I started the Couch to 5k program. Abbreviated as c25k I was invited to join a group of friends who were also frustrated at their weight and health, to meet them at 'the track.' SO unfamiliar with sports at all I had NO idea where or what was the track. Apparently, you don't have to be of superior ability to start this sport. For those unfamiliar the program – which is free- works by prompting you to run a minute or two, and more as you progress, and to walk some time. Years ago a fitness instructor, and friend, had told me 'anyone can run IF they RUN SLOWLY ENOUGH.' So if you don't sprint like a 2 year-old trying to get away from mom, and slow down the pace to what may feel ridiculously slow- you CAN RUN for a very long distance. As you do this running, and the support things with it, some strength work of hips, core and glutes, you will likely get faster. But, like the race I first talked about, it was also the people. The people who encouraged one another, who laughed with you, who you prayed for when they had a hard situation and who you looked forward to seeing again. Since that first beginning, I've kept running- even though I don't love it. I don't hate it anymore, so that's a step in the right direction. I am God's girl. I try to do many of the things science and common sense says leads to a healthy life. BECAUSE He has a job for me and I want to be a vessel that He can use. So I try to do what I know to do. Most of the time. Unless there's a block of cheese nearby. Or chips. I do love chips… There's a lot of things YOU can do to be healthy and it doesn't have to be running. I'm just generally a slug and running makes me have an APPOINTMENT to MOVE. Walking, cycling, boxing, hiking, karate, rowing, skiing, climbing, so many opportunities to be FIT. Not guilt. But also not excuses. Today, take one step closer to doing what you KNOW TO DO to get your fitness on track. Finances The next thing these medals and this weekend of running made me reflect on is finances. Finances? Yes, because it's my job and a passion of mine to figure out finances for folks. The races made me think about WINNING at money. So many folks are adamant, speaking in loud and insistent voices about finances and how it should be done. Of COURSE, there are principles. 'Live your wage,' is a good principle. Sometimes we've already messed up – and maybe badly- before we really hear that idea, and we can't figure out how to run the finances race except as the last runner, way in the back, followed by the sweep car that tracks the last runner. There is no one who hasn't erred in money. Perhaps they've spent more than they earned and the debt feels like guilt. Or maybe not guilt, but not excellence. Perhaps they've gotten bills under control and they aren't tithing. Tithing is the practice of giving back to God a tenth of all He has given you. I know a lot of people, who in getting their 'spending under control' and accumulating an emergency account, stopped tithing, and have never begun it again. Maybe spending on the kids is where you mess up, or some other area that you kind of know isn't wise. You may argue about it with your spouse, and yet you persist. But maybe you feel like you have always done this well. You are generous, you are careful, you have no fear or quirk that produces a bit of lunacy, and you feel on a good plan. I would argue that everyone makes mistakes, so be humble if you feel like you are perfect in this. All of us are on a journey, hopefully running the race in such a way as to win the prize. Wherever YOU are on this journey, make one step forward in your goals TODAY. No guilt. No excuses. Do the thing you KNOW you ought to do to move this forward. People The last thing the races and my wonderful medals and that whole weekend was about the people. The most important thing is that we love God and love people. When you find your peeps, the folks that cheer you on, and love you enough to not just say yes all the time. But love you enough – and know you well enough to correct and help you grow, those are the people that you need to keep close. The thing I see so often is that we let our tendencies drive how we do people. I'm a borderline introvert/extrovert. I need time alone to rejuvenate. Too much with people drains me. BUT I could very easily become a hermit and just stay in my own small world, ignoring the community, to which we are all called to love and serve. People are God's hands and feet. We are the ones who are going to be used to be answers to your prayers. We deliver answers, casseroles, hugs, love, laughter, babysitting. WE are the ones who surround you and help fill your heart when crisis come. In the celebrations we CHEER for you. In the darkness we sit with you. You fill a place in our lives NO ONE ELSE WILL EVER FILL. There is only ONE YOU. Made for us. Your gifts and talents for this community. Your adorable sense of humor for our people. Your insight needed to grow God's kingdom. I don't know how it all works together when we feel like we are a raindrop in an ocean. But I believe God and he says all this. So those medals represent Sarah, and Therese, Melissa and Jocelyn, Kathryn and Bill, Trish and Nikki, and so many others, who are full of spit and vinegar. Who are sweet as sugar and tough as nails. People who love the best they can and who are always trying to move further in their journey. People who are my friends. For all those races in a few short days, there was a training plan. I started barley able but slowly increased my capability to run the distances and stay healthy. Like my finances. A plan. A strategy and putting it into action a little at a time. Consistency grows as we overcome obstacles. Confidence grows as you ride out storms. With people it's also taking a risk, putting yourself out there, opening your heart- wisely- to possible rejection. Loss happens. Things don't go smoothly. There are stones in the path and leaves atop them that hides the possible pitfalls. Things happen that are OUR doing, or others, or things that are unexpected. Life is getting back to the plan and pressing on, time after time and time. I am not likely going to win the race in running. UNLESS no one shows up in my age group. I won't be the richest person in America, or my state, or my town. But I'm going to be the best I can be, within my interest in pushing myself. I'm going to have expectations about being tough and strong, and disciplined and focused. I will also leave room for short attention spans and eating too many chips. I will determined with myself and forgiving. I will say things that reflect who I am in Christ and not the lies I may hear from the past. One step forward. In fitness. In finances. Loving people.
