Comparisons

Over the past few months, fitness has become more of a priority in my life, which is why I've written about it so often. I just signed up for an entire YEAR of fitness boot camp; while I'm excited to be saving a significant amount of money versus the month-to-month option that I'd been doing, I'm also a bit apprehensive about committing to it for a full year. Especially when I think about the prospect of dragging myself out of bed when it's not only dark outside but also freezing cold. I have a feeling that pre-paying for camp will motivate me to get my booty moving on those icy pre-dawn mornings.

It's funny how there are some days when I'm working out (either at boot camp or with my co-workers or on my own) and I feel great and have tons of energy, while there are some other days when I'm just sucking wind. This morning I was really struggling at boot camp (not surprising given that some of our exercises included burpees, mountain climbers and suicides). Tonight my co-workers and I worked out to a Jillian Michaels DVD which last week really kicked my butt, but I'm proud to say that tonight it was not so bad. I even had enough energy left when I got home to take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Go figure.

One of the most difficult challenges for me is to not compare my performance to anyone else's. There are a lot of people at boot camp who have been running and working out for years and who are in far better shape than I am. I'll be honest, when we're running around the park (as we did today) it's sometimes tough to not beat myself up mentally for not being as fast as they are.

I'm trying to focus on the fact that I've cut my mile time by more than a minute since I first came to boot camp three months ago. I can do more push-ups and sit-ups than I used to. I'm seeing more muscle definition. The only comparison that I really need to make is between the Me that was a few months ago and the Me that I am today.

Likewise, it's sometimes hard to keep from beating myself up over sins that I commit, particularly in the areas that I consider to be my stumbling blocks. And it's all too easy to look at someone else and assume (wrongly, of course) that they have their act all together and that they can't possibly struggle with sin to the extent that I do. I really need to focus on doing the best that I can, and to let God's Spirit work within me to transform me into the woman He wants me to be.

One final thought--I saw this today and loved the message:

It's not about how fast or how slow I'm going--what's important is that I'm running. I'm in the race. And whether it's 21.3 miles or .21, it's still farther than never getting into the race at all. (Can you see how this applies to more than just running here? :) )

For Me, and Maybe for You, Too

Sometimes when I'm trying to encourage someone, a certain Bible verse will spring to mind that I assume is intended for them, but later I realize that it's exactly what I needed to hear as well. This happened this week.

Yesterday I was thinking of and praying for a friend who was dealing with a pretty stressful legal matter. Philippians 4:6-7 immediately sprang to mind:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NASB)

[Sidenote: Although the New Living Translation is my current Bible translation of choice, I grew up on the New American Standard, so it's common for the verses to come to mind old-school instead of a more modern translation.]

I also like how The Message phrases it:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

As I said, while I was able to use these verses to encourage my friend, that wasn't the end of their usefulness for the week. Today was one of those days at work where my to-do list seemed to grow by the hour, and on the ride home, as I thought about all that needed to get done that didn't get done today and all that needs to get done tomorrow and the rest of the week and the rest of the month, I started to get a little stressed out. Okay, more than a little.

And then Philippians 4:6-7 popped into my head yet again. This time, those verses were for me. This evening, I needed to be reminded to not let my worries pile up to be fretted over and chewed upon and digested, but rather to turn them over to the One who's fully in control.

Maybe someone else needs these verses today, too. Maybe it's you. Or someone you know. At any rate, I'm thankful that God never fails to give me exactly what I need, just when I need, and that He often prompts me to pass it along to others who need it, too.

And a One and a Two...

Apparently 2011 is turning out to be the year of trying new things. I've already accomplished one of my longtime goals by trying my hand at fitness boot camp (I'm getting ready for my FOURTH camp in a couple of weeks, can you believe it??), and now I'm planning on conquering the world of ballroom dance.

For many years I've wanted to take dance lessons, but have never had a willing partner to take with me. Now, however, a few co-workers and I have signed up to take lessons together this fall. I can only imagine the struggle we'll have to maintain our composure rather than crack each other up. We could probably sell tickets for people to come watch our lessons, as I'm sure we'll provide many laughs with our lack of coordination and grace. Regardless of whether I master the cha-cha or the rhumba, these lessons will provide lots of fun (and hopefully burn some extra calories, too.)

Now, what I was saying earlier in the year about feeling like I'm in a rut?

A Little Refreshment

It's been an extremely hot, humid, and (for the most part) dry summer, which has made spending time outdoors pretty miserable. Even though our boot camp meets at 5:30 a.m. before the sun really comes up, the last few days have been so humid that I've worked up a sweat just standing there waiting for the session to begin.

So it's no wonder that one of the favorite treats at boot camp are when our instructor brings her cooler filled with washcloths that are soaking in ice water. She doesn't bring them every day, but on the days that she does, we can't wait to wring out the excess water and wrap the washcloths around our sweat-soaked necks. It's amazing how such a little treat can bring such refreshment.

That got me thinking the other day about how small gestures can make a big impact. Verses like Matthew 10:42 spring to mind:

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

It's so easy for me to think that little favors don't really matter. I take them for granted all the time. Sure, I may automatically say thank you whenever someone holds a door open for me or allows me to get in line ahead of them at the grocery store, but I don't always realize the significance of that kind gesture.

Furthermore, it's so easy for me to be so caught up in my own little world that I don't notice how thirsty someone may be for some refreshment from me. I want to be used by God in powerful, significant ways--and that may mean focusing on doing small things rather than waiting for some grand opportunity. So I'm feeling challenged to (a) be more aware of and more thankful for small moments of refreshment that come my way, and (b) to be more proactive in seeking out ways that I can refresh others.