Thursday, August 1, 2019
It is hard to believe I have been at this ironman business for so long and harder still to believe that I would be going at it again. It is sort of like the remake of an old movie over and over yet each time, something is a bit different. Each time it seems, I have found a new way to fail. This time the same enthusiasm is there along with the same fear, yet this time, the fear is more subdued. This time there is a quiet confidence cooking here that I haven't had before. Perhaps it is due to a close feeling with God, that seems to pervade my spirit more than ever. Not that I haven’t felt close to Him in the past, but through my failures, I suppose, our relationship has grown and is growing richer still than I could have imagined it could be. I am in a good place all the way around.
Today I am working on my training plan which should start in about 4 days. In a way it like packing to go on a trip; an adventure in faith. For those who don’t know this is an event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike, followed by a full marathon (26.2 miles) within 17 hours. To prepare for this the training is going to be really hard. The event will be really hard, but I know how great the reward and I feel ready to pay the price whether I succeed or fail.
There will be some giving up involved: giving up leisure coffee most mornings with my wife; giving up staying up to watch a movie or reading; giving up a lot of fun, outside work here on my place, and so many other little things that will have to be set aside until. But I think I am ready for a bit of self-denial. I think I need the plan and the discipline enforced by the faith in my calling. I will hope and pray to give a good accounting of myself before God.
God has given me this opportunity to hope if only for today. I am thankful for that and my prayer is that I will be allowed to finish this and see the tears flow down my wife's face, feel her hug, and hear in my heart words from God: "well done my good and faithful servant."
Today I am working on my training plan which should start in about 4 days. In a way it like packing to go on a trip; an adventure in faith. For those who don’t know this is an event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike, followed by a full marathon (26.2 miles) within 17 hours. To prepare for this the training is going to be really hard. The event will be really hard, but I know how great the reward and I feel ready to pay the price whether I succeed or fail.
There will be some giving up involved: giving up leisure coffee most mornings with my wife; giving up staying up to watch a movie or reading; giving up a lot of fun, outside work here on my place, and so many other little things that will have to be set aside until. But I think I am ready for a bit of self-denial. I think I need the plan and the discipline enforced by the faith in my calling. I will hope and pray to give a good accounting of myself before God.
God has given me this opportunity to hope if only for today. I am thankful for that and my prayer is that I will be allowed to finish this and see the tears flow down my wife's face, feel her hug, and hear in my heart words from God: "well done my good and faithful servant."
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