I had run or hiked over 300 miles this year by the end of August. That doesn’t count time on the treadmill and a couple months down with a bad back. By late summer I had gotten into a pretty good groove/routine. I was running 6 days a week and occasionally tackling a mountain or two for a good hike.
Then, it happened. One day I had just finished running over 6 miles when my achilles tendon started to hurt. (That happens when you get older!) It was the first weekend in September. A couple of weeks go by, I’m trying to rest it then test it. It’s still hurting.
I’ve got to do something physical, and I need to do it regularly. So I dusted off a mountain bike I had in the garage. I had never ridden seriously, just occasionally I’d hit the streets, but nothing in the hills, no trails, nothing too tough.
The first couple of weeks I was sore, but I quickly realized this biking thing might do the trick. It was much harder on my lungs and heart than I expected…especially when I TRIED to go up a hill.
My first ride was on September 23rd, so it’s still very new to me, but I’m loving it. I’ve already put over 300 miles on the roads and trails through groves and up into Simpson park. I LOVE IT!
Why all this recent history of my exercise routine?
It’s simple. I had to have something I enjoyed taken away from me in order for me to discover something I’m enjoying MUCH MORE.
You can probably look back and see the same thing happening in your own life: a broken relationship, a move, the loss of a job, an injury or whatever. We sometimes have to loose something we won’t let go of, in order to get something that’s much better.
I know this is a long blog for me…but one last thing. What if we were more proactive with this. What could you let go of right now that is only GOOD in order for you to take hold of something that is BEST?
Here’s one such example, as it relates to our money and stuff. This is from the Apostle Paul and I underlined the huge trade off when we get this right.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV)
We don’t get THAT LIFE without some changes. I say, GO FOR IT!
