The Presidental Address

Today was one of those days that wasn't exactly a good day and with no particular reason. It was just a day that loomed a bit darkly. As I sit here in my home, alone with my thoughts, I watch the Presidential address to congress on television and all I can think about is this: Whether you agree with our newly elected President or not, I find myself not really being concerned with the serious crisis that our country is in. I find that I have a certain peace about my personal situation. A peace that has been afforded me by my Lord and Savior. I feel that my God is bigger than any depression or national deficit. He's also personal enough to look out for my individual well-being and one that knows the future that He holds for me in His hands.

Yes, I've been through some major struggles and yes, I still have a way to go. However, I have hope. Hope in my future and hope for tomorrow. Have I suffered? YES! But God has allowed these trials to sharpen me and to make me a better man, father, and spiritual leader to my children. I've learned that every human will experience a certain amount of suffering in their lifetime, and I've certainly experienced my fair share to this point. For that, I'm thankful because this has obviously been in the Lord's plan for me and I accept that. I've realized that it's not IF suffering will happen, but how we navigate waters of suffering victoriously. It's inevitable.

God knows the greater outcome, which is why He allows the painful present.

What does all of this have to do with triathlon and training? Here's the bottom line for me. There's a certain connection between the physical suffering that goes along with training and the suffering that is inevitable that goes along with life. I've learned to embrace both and praise the Lord for it.

Now practically, this morning was a nice 4.5 mile run for about 38 minutes this morning before work in the cold weather. I'm truly ready for the chill in the air to be overtaken by the warmer spring weather. I'm ready to really push myself with my new coach to see how far I can take myself, better myself physically and mentally, and continue down the road to redemption.

Suffering

Today was a day of suffering . . . in a good way. There's a certain attraction to the physical suffering that goes in to training. I think that my body subconsciously knows that it's suffering in order to get better and stronger. I believe that our bodies innately understand this concept better than our minds do. At least that seems to be the case with me. My life, at the moment, is very much a mirror of this concept. I'm suffering in many areas, and even though I know that I'll be okay and stronger in the end, it's hard for me to grasp this concept mentally. When you suffer, you feel alone. You feel like you're on an island. Alone. But that's not the case. That's the devil trying to make you believe that you're by yourself. But there's strength in community and knowing that there's always someone that's in a worse place than you. Suffering is interesting, and even more interesting is how God uses it to bring us closer and more aware of Him.

One of my favorite verses that alludes to suffering is Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This is obviously much more powerful than the obvious struggle and suffering that training brings to the physical. If we can endure the spiritual and mental aspects of this, the physical aspect should be a piece of cake!