To be or not to be an inspiration

 

In doing endurance sports I have always hoped that I was an inspiration for others to emulate.   But, the thought crossed my mind the other day, as to whether I want to be an inspiration or do I want to inspire.  I have long thought  they were the same thing but upon reflection I and see there is a big difference.  Is it something you want to be or something you want to do.  Which takes precedence.  Being an inspiration is it about me becoming something, someone to be admired.    

As a triathlete in my early eighties now, I really like it when others applaud my performance and think I am a tough old bird for my age.  Do I do it for my "old guy" pat on the back.  Do I do it for myself to in a quest for own kudos?  Can I do it without wanting attention for myself and be satisfied with inspiring others to do what they could all along: challenge their own perceived age limitations?

Upon examining true motives I have often found myself prideful, pounding on my chest like some geriatric Tarzan.  When all the time I should consider it a blessing to be healthy enough and willful enough to be this active at this age. For that alone I should be careful to mindful to be humble and grateful, not to be an inspiration but to give inspiration to others, and to give God the glory

 

Becoming the Real Deal

 In the past couple of days in talking to people I have some respect for, I heard the word "real" to describe something and someone they thought highly of. In this world of fake news and various facades, public and private, "real" stands out shining as a bright light in a dark place. To be called "the real deal" is a pretty big compliment. 

Perhaps trying to be the "real deal" and taking total responsibility for oneself is the essence of endurance sports.  In most cases, deep down endurance sports lose the posers.  It's quite real out there just you and the road.  Things get sifted out and the world becomes quite simple in those moments.  Just get me through this next mile to the next aid station.  And deep in, it's just get me to the manhole cover just down the road.   When you don't think you can take the next step.  When you don't think you can get up off the curb and you do, it is then you know.  You are the "real deal" in these moments in time.  And I think all carry off from our efforts a portion of that achieved authenticity into our being and into our normal lives. 

Avoiding Falling on the Conveyor to Nowhere

There seems to be a trend toward sameness, obesity, inactivity, lifestyle maladies, frequent doctor visits, and overmedication.  It scares me.  I see the trend, especially among those my age and I fear falling onto that conveyor belt and losing my life in the process.  It could be so easy to just let go and let life be swept away. 

But I don't think God planned it the way we have distorted it.    Though this sedentarism is the normal way of American life, it is, in my opinion,  not the natural way of life. I don't think God had sedentary plans for our lives. I get the sense that we are to be risk-takers for God at all ages.  

"For whosoever saves his life shall lose it and whosoever loses his life for my sake shall find it."  Matt 16:25

Sunday afternoon and again I can feel the adventurous spirit creeping in and want to haunting me again. Am  I "ready to be offered?"  

Give the Spirit Room to Breathe

 The day was spent out on the roads doing errands in the city.  This exhausts me more than endurance sports.  All that was left of me  just wanted to  shower and go to bed.   All the exercise I  had done this day  was  my strength and flex session before I left.  A planned indoor ride looked like a dying cause. 

Down deep there is a rebellious streak in me that just hates for the world to have its way with me.  I just have trouble letting the necessary and ordinary take away the  senseless yet extraordinary part of life.  Sometimes what makes no sense at all seems to make the most sense of all.  

I won't ride far, I thought.  Just get a ride in and salvage something from this.  So I did and it wasn't pretty- at first.   I wanted to quit after a mile and even after 10-15 minutes, I wanted that shower.

 That should  be sufficient to call it a ride.  But it wasn't and I just kept on and on until I had hit the hour I had planned on in my schedule. And, I finished really strong, leaving me wondering:  where did that come from? 

I don't have any answers to the end of this but to say:  don't always believe the present way you feel.  Give your spirit the time to stretch and breathe through sweat and determination.  You may just wrest some of the better part of yourself for yourself and give cause to smile.