Listen. I do not…I repeat I do not get my adrenaline rush through hiking. That’s not the ideal way of having fun for me. I’m often reminded of the many cross country meets I dreaded running in as a sprinter. As a sprinter long distance runs aren’t your best friend but you know that it will equip you for the season.
Little nugget 1: Training is not fun but it prepares you for your race. You can’t expect to win if your dont train and/or train properly.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24?-?27 ESV
Little nugget 2: You won’t always be able to sprint through each journey or season in your life. Life isn’t about how fast you can learn a lesson or get through a season. Some seasons are long roads ahead and you may not be able to see the finish line. Some seasons are up and down many hills before you get to the top of the mountain. You learn to endure through each situation, each challenge, and each circumstance.
I remember when they announced the hike and so many people were excited and the only words I heard were 3 day hike. I asked Jesus whyyyyy me!? We can’t take a bus to see the quarter lake?
The next few days I became less enthused about the hike. I was thinking of all types of excuses of why I didnt need to hike especially considering the days leading to the hike I wasn’t feeling well. I knew the Lord wanted me to do the hike and I just needed to suck it up.
How many times in life do we come across making excuses to do something we know God is calling us to do? How many times do we try to take the easy way to get the gold medal? How many times do we want and expect instant results and gratification for things we haven’t trained for?
We get dropped off at our starting point of the hike and a teammate walks up to me and asks, “Are you excited for the hike?”
I looked at her and responded with the honest dry answer of “No.”
She was a little caught off guard by the answer and she responded, “Well I hope the Lord surprises you,” and immediately walks away.
As she walked away I told myself you have to change your mindset of this hike or it will be miserable for you. In that moment I changed my attitude and decided I was going enjoy this hike and see what the Lord had for me to learn and embrace the next 3 days.
Little nugget: It starts with your attitude of the situation you are embarking upon. Your attitude alone will set the tone of your journey. Choose hope and not defeat. Choose a winning attitude and not a negative perception of things. Choose life and not death. Choose to be hopeful.
Stay tuned to the next 2 days of my journey…Did I give up?
