Sunday, October 24, 2010

Self-Portrait


Today was a rare Michigan October day.  Sunny, warm, beautiful.
Encourages you, makes you slow down - observe - enjoy.
October in the Great Lakes State is changeable.  Volatile. 
Chill and windy one day.  Bright and still the next. 
Should you open windows or light a fire in the wood stove?

Much like our moods.  Every changing and affected by our surroundings.
But unlike our faith.  Where we are firm, steadfast, and confident.
Finding joy in Christ, regardless of our circumstances.
Depending wholly on the Creator and trusting in Him.

Trusting Him to grow us, change us, refine and reveal us. 
Reminding us of our identity in Christ.

"Forgiven beloved
Hidden in Christ
Made in the image of the Giver of Life
Righteous and holy
Reborn and remade
Accepted and holy, this is our new name"
~from "I Am New" by Jason Gray

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Go!

I do not know how it happened, but I am running.  It began innocently enough, taking out the stroller in the afternoons to run errands.  I thought, "This is nice, we should just go for a walk".  And then we walked further.  And further.  I bought a jogging stroller off Craigslist for $30 to replace our worn out Graco that is 6+ years old, has bald tires and far too many miles.  And then walking seemed too slow.  I began to jog.  (Perhaps it was a trot?  It was certainly no run.) 

Today we did almost 3 miles.  Almost the entire distance at a run.  Jack rides in his trendy new (used) stroller as I pound the pavement.  We share possession of the ipod.  (my ipod doesn't work anymore and we are down to one pair of earbuds in the house.  What a travesty.) 

It has been 12-13 years since I've run.  Walk?  Sure.  Yoga?  All the time.  But never ever run.  I was a distance runner in high school.  After I got married and had 2 children, my back was so bad I could hardly walk.  Between my scoliosis and loss of core strength my back was taking on more than it could handle, grinding with each and every painful step.  Some days I was unable to move off the couch, debilitated by the pain.  But no more.  Two determined years of yoga, prayer, and hard work and I am well.  Having lost 20 pounds, I feel whole again.  Thankful the Lord made our bodies capable to bend, break and heal - remaking us stronger than when we began.

And I'm off...