Press On

I was talking with a friend of mine over coffee this morning about the habits in our lives. We are both runners and push each other to keep putting in miles and improving our fitness. We also encourage each other in our spiritual life and the pursuit of things that are eternal. There are enjoyable parts of each of these areas of our life even though we readily admit our struggles in consistency of effort and success.

I was sharing how I had run in Arizona last week on our mission trip and how difficult it was at an elevation of 6500 feet above sea level. On one of my running days out there, there was also a headwind of 25-45 miles per hour. Needless to say, it wasn't one of my best days on the road, but I persevered and finished anyway.

The realization hit us both that this isn't too different from our spiritual focus. There are times when everything we do seems to come easy. Understanding Scripture almost seems second nature, our prayers are focused and powerful, and even meditation is extremely fruitful. There are also times when it seems as if I am reading the Bible in a language I've never seen before, I can't keep a prayer focused for ten seconds, and any attempt to meditate is quickly squashed by my own energy.

I don't stop running when I have a difficult day(s) on the roads, but I push through and then get ready for the next one with an anticipation of it being better. I'm learning to do the same thing with my spiritual practices. Even though I may get frustrated with what I feel is a lack of progress, I push through and get ready for the next day with the anticipation of it being better. It may not radically improve in one day, but I believe it will happen if I keep working on it without giving up too soon.

It's Only Two

It's interesting how your perspective changes as you engage in activities for a while. I was talking with some friends a few weeks ago about the training program I was using for my half marathon. There were days when it only called for two miles of running. I told them I would run at least three on those days since I was not quite warmed up after only two miles. I jokingly said it almost wasn't worth putting my shoes on for just two miles.

I thought back to that comment when I was nearing the end of the race this past Saturday. I realized the irony of dismissing a two mile distance while my body currently groaned at the thought of two more miles. I suppose the difference in perspective comes from when those two miles take place. When they are the only ones I am running I'm not stressed, but when they are tacked on at the end of 11 miles they take much more effort to overcome.

That's probably not very different than any other stressor in our lives. If we are in a fairly peaceful time of life a minor hiccup doesn't seem to derail us much at all. When we have been under constant stress and are filled with anxiety something as simple as running out of milk can seem like a catastrophe. Being aware of our current stress level can help us prepare for these moments and hopefully remember to just take it in stride and keep moving forward.

Find Your Second Wind

I read a running article today which shared a simple yet complex bit of wisdom. This author wrote, "Everyone has a second wind. Most people just don’t run long enough to find it.” I can relate to this from a runner's perspective as I've often felt exhausted on a run only to find another burst of energy that carried me through to the end. In those moments I had to fight the urge to quit and only then was I able to find the second wind that enabled me to finish strongly.

We need that same mentality of perseverance in other areas of life too. Without an attitude of endurance we can give up far too quickly on relationships, jobs, changes in behavior, and new plans. Sadly, we will often decide to quit before we find out what we're really capable of doing. When we are willing to push through barriers of resistance, we will discover we're able to go further than we thought. Our character will be stronger and we'll be more confident in our ability to persevere as a result.

Real Commitment

Commitment is an interesting word. I think we use it more often than we actually align ourselves with its true meaning. I know I’ve watered it down in my own life depending on the circumstances around me. Many of us have turned it from a word signifying our resolute pledge to endure into something that can be altered or broken whenever it suits us.

How do we determine our level of commitment? It’s going to be revealed in our adherence to physical, spiritual, and relationship principles through uneven times. Are you willing to run in hot weather, high humidity, and sore muscles? Are you going to choose the healthy option for eating even if other foods sit untouched in front of you? Are you committed to your marriage no matter how encouraging or flirtatious someone else might be? Will you persevere through obstacles seemingly preventing you from reaching your goals? Are you committed to your church even if you don’t agree with everything that is happening? Are you committed to following Christ even when your prayers don’t seem to be answered and you feel lost and confused?

The depth of our commitment is rarely seen on the smooth portions of the road. it’s only when we encounter obstacles and rough passage that we find out where are real allegiance lies. Decide what you are truly committed to and be ready to stick with it when it isn’t easy. This is the difference in true dedication and convenience.

Hunker Down

The flu bug has infiltrated my home and sickened my family. My wife kicked it off a week and a half ago when she was laid up in bed for five days. Even though we tried to keep everyone at a distance it soon hit my youngest two daughters. My oldest and I thought we had avoided it and then she was struck with the bug this morning. At this point I am holding out hope that I can stay away from it even though the odds are not in my favor. No amount of disinfectant, vitamin C, and water seems to be enough to keep it at bay.

I suppose that the greater life lesson in this is found by admitting that even with the best preventative care, I can't stop all things from happening. No matter how much we prepare we won't always be ready for what is coming. When those events strike we learn to care for ourselves the best we can and endure until things get better. It's not a perfect solution, but if you can't avoid the tough times you have to find a way to survive them.

Keep Swinging

"My motto was always to keep swinging… In a slump... 

the only thing to do was keep swinging."

Hank Aaron

When you don't know what to do, keep doing what is right. When things don't seem to be going your way, keep doing what is right. When your pace of life is uncertain, keep doing what is right. When we are struggling to maintain our focus, keep doing what is right. When we are completely at a loss in our relationships, we need to keep doing what is right. 

The measure of the character of a person is in their ability to consistently do what is right even in difficult circumstances. Our steadfast commitment will help us endure through trying times.

Whatever It Takes

Life does not work out exactly as predicted. I suppose that other people find themselves more firmly entrenched on their projected life path, but I doubt that many of us are exactly where we intended to be. Financial markets crash, we receive an unexpected diagnosis, children make very poor choices, jobs are lost, and other tragedies ensue. These are big events that can easily derail our intended life trajectory. This doesn't just pertain to the "big vision" for our life either. Often the smaller details of projects and desires don't end up where you wanted them to be either. Tasks become much more difficult than first imagined and firm planning becomes much more unstable. It can be very unsettling when it seems as if this happens all at once.

I wish that I could share four easy steps to make sure these things don't happen, but there aren't any easy solutions. We do have the power to choose our reaction. We can allow unexpected occurrences (both big and small) to derail our vision or we can decide to adjust and overcome. When it is something that is incredibly important to us we approach it with tenacity and focus. We decide that what we are doing (short term and long term) is valuable enough to do whatever it takes to see it survive and succeed. It's this attitude that enables us to overcome obstacles and stay focused on a positive end result. 

My Best (Or Not)

There are some days when it seems like I am operating at maximum intensity and capability. These are the days when I feel like I relate well to people, I see how all the details fit into the big picture, my productivity is off-the-charts, and everything gels together. I love these days when all the parts of my life seem to fit cohesively together without any blurred lines or uncomfortable overlap. Unfortunately, this "perfect" type of day doesn't happen very often.

Most days I am able to do certain things well and then find ways to struggle through the other parts with some degree of completion. There are also those days (fortunately they are rare) where it seems that I can't hold a conversation with myself without communication issues. These are the highly frustrating times when it feels like everything I touch becomes exponentially more difficult.

The truth is that no matter what kind of day it is I still need to persevere. I can't quit life because I'm struggling in my communication or having a hard time thinking beyond the tasks of today. As a leader in my calling and in my family, there will be days when I have to battle through with less than my best stuff. While it might exhaust me more than the high-performance days, I'm sure that I will be made better through the struggle than when it all comes easily. I know that's the truth, but sometimes I need the reminder when it all seems to be an extremely difficult journey.

No Shortcuts

"Our tendency as human beings is to favor the quick over the slow, the cheap over the expensive, and the easy over the difficult. That’s why we often seek the fastest shortcut to the biggest bang." Brad Lomenick


It's only in the most rare of circumstances that success comes quickly. For genuine, satisfactory success there is a great deal of patience, learning, failure, and character shaping that lead to that point. It requires a vision for our future, identifying the pathway to achieve it, and the hard work of preparation and personal molding to make it a reality.

I believe that success doesn't come to everyone because of the length of the process to find it. We tend to be impatient people who want results immediately after our efforts. It's a reflection of the microwave culture we live in--expecting instantaneous results for minimal effort. The most worthwhile things are worth waiting for and we'll value them even more after our sustained, often lengthy, efforts.

Making Adjustments

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face."  Mike Tyson 

In his prime, Mike Tyson was arguably the most powerful boxer of all time. His heavyweight fights didn't last long as he decimated his opponents in record time. Opposing boxers would claim that they had the strategy to defeat him and then would quickly be knocked out. His attack was devastating to almost all planned maneuvers.

I like to plan ahead, but can attest to the fact that even the most carefully thought-out plans don't always happen like we anticipated. There will be moments in life where we feel as if we have been hit in the face and find that our strategies won't work. This may take the form of a devastating family death, a terminal diagnosis, an unexpected job loss, or the deterioration of a relationship. All of these are major life events that derail our well laid plans and expectations for our future. You are now left with two options: be knocked flat and be unable to carry on or resolve to adjust your plan and keep swinging. 

The punches are coming and we need to find the inner strength to keep fighting back.

Worth It

My wife is a runner. She has worked to increase her dedication to this endeavor in the last few years and continues to amaze me with her perseverance. She commented on her Facebook profile about a difficult run recently and her brother (who is a mega-distance runner) posted this underneath, "It gets easier, then it gets harder again, then you are better, faster, stronger."

What a powerful statement that isn't just about running. It's about parenting, marriage, devotion, Christianity, personal relationships, and career. It's the motto of following God and trusting in the way He makes all things new. It's a reminder that you sometimes have to be broken before you can be made wholly new again. The act of breaking is horrific sometimes, but the strength gained makes the new person that you become appreciate the process you endured. It's reason enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

Keep Going

Perseverance and endurance are words that we understand cognitively, but have difficulty living out practically. I was inspired by a story of genuine perseverance this morning-you can read it here on one of our missionary's blogs. The woman in this story traveled for six months through difficult physical, financial, and spiritual circumstances to find healing. It would have been easy for her to quit at any time or even to convince herself of failure before beginning the journey. Instead of falling short she persevered and was able to see her hopes fulfilled and her persistence rewarded.

Why don't we have the same drive? We set mediocre goals and then fail to follow through after a few days or weeks. Couples go to counseling to improve their relationship and quickly abandon what they have learned when the 1st real conflict arises. We make a pact with ourselves not to do something again and abandon our commitment for fleeting pleasure. Without endurance we are self-appointed knights flailing at personal dragons with a flimsy sword made from our own weak-willed fortitude.

When the goal we set reflects something that is genuinely important to us, we won't stop just because the journey is difficult. Instead we will constantly remind ourselves of what we are striving towards and wrestle our way through adversity. Not only will we taste success, but our mettle will be strengthened in the endeavor. Our individual character and the character of our relationships will reflect either our lack of effort or our enduring effort.