| I was asking myself about discomfort after reading an article in the Epoch Times about being comfortable in the uncomfortable. This guy -He didn’t say how old he was but definitely younger than me- was in a group doing a 40 mi hike somewhere in the mountains.
He decided at the last moment to wear an older familiar pair of hiking boots instead of the more lightweight mountain running shoes. Hello blisters and he still had a long way to go. But somehow by the end, blisters didn’t matter as he pushed through to the end and experienced the exhilaration of the uncomfortable.
What a champ.
That wouldn’t be me, as I reflected on the uncomfortable things I have done from a physical perspective in these recent days.
In my last post, the big challenge was standing on the paddle board. The next challenge, should I accept it, was falling off the board with a life preserver. Rick wanted to make sure I could get back up in deep water should I get in trouble.
.
(“I’ve fallen but I can’t get up.” Sound familiar?)
Rick came out with this impromptu training after a peaceful float on Lake Errock. Thinking in my head: I do NOT want to do THAT right now, I m in my happy place. (Head says: I’ll do it another time when I’m really ready. When the water is totally calm, clear, no icky stuff floating around.’)
(Do I sound like a big baby? I hope so as I had seen a young girl fall off in way colder water on the Harrison River, no life preserver. Got right back up, as I observed in awe of her moment. )
I fell backwards, for a moment not even trusting my life preserver (duh, what is the purpose, but to preserve your life?), but flutter kicked to the board, back in the saddle.
What had been a big deal in my head turned out to be a “no sweat, I got this.”
High 5 from the Rickster.
God wants to challenge us into opportunities to use His supernatural life preserver so the next big deal gets easier. Backing off from these challenges, or -not trusting our divine Coach (like I was doing at a merely human level with Rick) to not give us more than we can handle with HIS power, to our character, relationships and life situations will keep us safe but we won’t experience the exhilaration of borderland living in God’s kingdom and His ultimate flotation device.
I fell and I floated up.
1 Cor 10:12-13
“therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
|
Recent Comments