OK, so the only things that rested today were muscles. I didn't run, but I drove all over Florida (or so it seemed) taking my girls to the orthodontist, etc. Since I ran so much yesterday I opted out of the morning run (not to mention I really needed the sleep!) But I did find a new form of exercise that made my arms a bit sore. My parents (whom we visited last night) got a Wii. I played Wii bowling and Wii tennis last night and my arms are a little on the sore side. I was amazed at my daughter who played Wii Boxing and she worked up a sweat fast! Way to go, Baby! My husband loves the thing and can barely move he's been playing it so much. Even my dad got into it. But here's the thing . . . while I know that the experience of everything we do is mitigated by the mind, how can you work up a sweat boxing the air? You miss the rebound of the "hit" and somehow it just doesn't make sense to me. But my husband assures me it's just like the real thing . . . that somehow you communicate to your mind that you DID "hit" something. Unreal . . . literally.
In the meantime, I'm going to hit some "real" pavement tomorrow. Again I'll jog the whole thing. I'll let you know about it if I live through it.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Jogging with Jesus
Here's today's sermon. You have to read to the end to find out about my running experience this morning. :o)
Genesis 22:1-18 and Matthew 10:37-42
The Lord Will Provide (Sundaes on Wednesday)
I headed out of the church a couple of days ago, thinking about my sermon for today. As I pulled to the end of the drive, preparing to turn towards town, I noticed our marquee which had just been changed, and I began to laugh uncontrollable. I don’t know if any of you noticed it or not. (There’s a picture of it in your newsletter!) The marquee says, plain as day, “The Lord Will Provide Sundaes on Wednesday July 9.” I sent a picture of our sign to my clergy friends around the country. Within days, I had responses asking if the Lord would provide Sundaes for them as well, as the heat around the country is pretty astounding! One of my friends commented – “It’s like free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s only it’s the Lord!” I’ve even discussed our sign with one of the ICU nurses at Highlands Regional. It’s a great discussion starter.
In the readings for today, we discover the meaning of blind faith. Abraham hears God’s call to take Isaac and sacrifice him as an offering to God. And he set out to do exactly what God had asked him to do, not knowing why, not knowing that God would save his son at the last minute. In the Gospel according to Matthew, we discover the cost of following Jesus as we too are asked to enter into the covenant call of faith which often seems absolutely absurd. We are asked to love the Christ more than our own family members. In other words, we are to be willing to let go of that which is most important to us if we want to call ourselves followers of Christ. Matthew’s Gospel even goes so far as to say, “whoever does not take up the cross to follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus spoke these words before his own crucifixion. He was being real with those who wished to follow him. Jesus was letting them know that to follow him was radical enough that they would, most likely, be killed.
Why are our churches as full as they are? Because we want to skip ahead to the place where the ram comes into view and the sacrifice is no longer necessary. We want the promise of eternal life. We want the ice cream sundae with the cherry on top, that’s why people gather. We want it to be known here and around the world that the Lord will provide!
(at this point, we’ll get interactive as I tell the story. Practice: (me) “Abraham thought,” (kids) “How wonderful!” (choir) “I have followed God!” (congregation) “Now I can receive my blessing!”)
Abraham started out living life in hopes of the ice cream sundae with the cherry on top too. In faith he walked through the desert, leaving behind family, and came to the place where the Lord provided for him. He thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing!” But Sarah, his wife, did not conceive the child that was promised him. So he set about helping God fulfill God’s promise by doing as Sarah instructed and sleeping with her servant, Hagar. Soon Hagar conceived and bore him a son, and he thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing (of descendents as many as the stars)!” But with Abraham’s new attachment to his son, Sarah and Hagar began to argue over who was the most important to Abraham, and for the safety of the child, God sent Hagar and her son to live elsewhere. And Abraham was childless yet again. But his faith must not have dissipated there because some messengers from God came to Abraham and told him that Sarah would conceive a son in her old age, and she did. And once again Abraham thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing!” But then Abraham heard God’s voice to take his son into the wilderness, to an altar 3 days away, and sacrifice him. He heard God’s voice telling him to kill his own son. And Abraham, who loved God and revered God more than his own son . . . Abraham, whose faith had brought him through hard time after hard time after hard time . . . Abraham left once again for the place God would lead him, and prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, a sacrifice we today cringe to think about, a sacrifice we would easily see as insanity in our culture, a sacrifice that would make the news as a tragedy saved when Child & Family Services stepped in. Abraham began to make his altar. He placed his son upon the rock and took out his knife, instilling fear in his child . . . fear that no child should know. And then the Lord provided . . . the Lord provided a way out for both Abraham and Isaac. And Abraham, through tears of relief, thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing.” And he did. But by that time, he realized and God realized that Abraham’s life was no longer about walking in faith to receive a blessing. Rather, he came to experience God’s provision at the moment as enough. Abraham, long before the days of Christ, experienced Grace. He received a gift that he knew was not due him. He acknowledged the reality that nothing mattered except God, and he followed, believing that God knew what was best. The blessing that Abraham sought was no longer important. The fact that God’s will would be done throughout eternity was all that mattered.
We hear Abraham’s story and we realize the extent of blind faith that is needed when we enter into this covenant between ourselves and God. When Jesus said, “37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” he wasn’t speaking in some metaphorical, allegorical speech. He was speaking the truth, the reality, that a covenant with God is not to be taken lightly. There will be times when God demands of us more than we might be willing to give. If we are not willing to give it, we are not living the covenant life. I’ll repeat what I just said because it is at the heart of faith-living. If we are not willing to give God ANYTHING God asks for, we are not living the covenant life.
And, like Abraham, we are to follow God not because of some blessing WE will receive, but because the One who holds the universe is eternal. God is all that matters. We are only temporal (stuck in time). The covenant life demands that we live in recognition of the awesomeness of God and that it change our priorities so that God comes before the very people we love the most.
Jesus asked his followers for everything. And they left everything, they risked everything (as we pointed out last week), to follow him. His followers wondered why they should follow him because they had been taught to follow God. And Jesus reveals his identity to them. He tells them that if they are a true disciple, they will become their teacher. They will lose their very selves and begin living the life of their teacher. And Jesus admits that’s exactly what he did. God was his teacher and he is God. The lines between Jesus and God have been erased because Jesus became so immersed in God that no distinction could be made between the two of them. He teaches his disciples that they too can follow to the point where the lines become blurred. “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.” In other words, if you as my students, take in all that I am and the line between us exists no more because what I believe, you believe and who I am you are. This is a different model than our current culture portrays. We offer more of a cafeteria culture – take the part that you like from this teacher and the part that you like from this teacher and become a unique individual. But in Jesus’ culture, the disciples or the “learners” had only one teacher and took all that the one teacher espoused seriously until the lines between the two of them began to fade. Because of this, Jesus is able to say, “Whoever welcomes my disciples also welcomes me.” And then he continues, “And whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me” , and the one who sent Jesus is God. And if that wasn’t enough, Jesus continues by telling about the kinds of rewards followers receive. If you represent a prophet, you’ll get a prophet’s reward. If you represent a righteous person, you’ll get a righteous person’s reward. But, if you as a disciple of Christ who comes in the name of the Holy one, offer anyone ANYTHING, even a glass of water, you have bestowed upon them the greatest blessing ever. You have offered to them God. (Repeat: If you are a true disciple of Christ, you are also a disciple of God, so anything you offer to anyone in the name of Christ is a gift, a blessing, from God.) For you are no longer offering them some reward that is way out there, you have offered to them the knowledge that the blessing of the universe is simply that God is. And you, a follower of God, have shown them that very blessing because of your covenantal relationship with God through your teacher, Christ Jesus.
But the question remains, are we willing to sacrifice it all so that God can do what God needs to do with us? With others? Like Abraham, we frequently have to live a life of trial and error. We ask, “God, have I been faithful enough for my eternal reward?” and God reminds us that even a glass of water coming from one who is in a true covenantal relationship with God is the reward. There is no need for anything else. God’s presence with us here and now is sufficient.
If any of you have been awake at 6:45 AM for the last week and a half, you’ve seen the comedy of me learning to run. My teacher is my neighbor who, ironically, is a nursing home social worker. (I guess that’s how she has the patience to work with me!) We’ve been doing a combination of walk, jog, sprint, for the past week and this morning my teacher got me to jog the whole 1.3 miles with her, finishing with a sprint. After we were finished this morning, I asked her when on earth I was going to feel the euphoria, the runner’s peace, that athletes addicted to running typically experience. She laughed, knowing that my body was aching and patting me on the back nonetheless. Reflecting on my sermon for this morning, I found that what I wanted was the reward. I had told my teacher, “Sure, I’ll follow you!” “I’ll run every morning!” And in the back of my mind I was thinking, “I really want the reward – a long lean body, a feeling of euphoria to start the day, etc.” My motivation will not get me anywhere. Why: Because my teacher is not teaching me to get to the reward. Rather, she is teaching me to endure the stubborn aches and pains of my body as it pounds across the pavement. I run because my teacher asks me to. And I know that my teacher will push me beyond where I think I am capable of going, yet I will still continue to follow. And that should be enough of a reward for me. That IS the peace. Following Christ is the same way. If we are always looking ahead for the reward that awaits us – a gold crown in heaven, a hearty “thank you” from the person we helped, a pat on the back from our congregation, even eternal life, we’ve missed what our teacher, Jesus, is calling us to do and to be. The journey of running alongside Christ Jesus is reward enough. Though we know our teacher will ask us to go beyond what we ever thought possible, doing things like giving up everything to which we are attached, still we continue to follow. And if we are willing to sacrifice all other passions in our life for the experience of being taught by the Holy One, it will be enough. For even the glass of water we are able to offer our neighbor will be the holiest of moments.
Genesis 22:1-18 and Matthew 10:37-42
The Lord Will Provide (Sundaes on Wednesday)
I headed out of the church a couple of days ago, thinking about my sermon for today. As I pulled to the end of the drive, preparing to turn towards town, I noticed our marquee which had just been changed, and I began to laugh uncontrollable. I don’t know if any of you noticed it or not. (There’s a picture of it in your newsletter!) The marquee says, plain as day, “The Lord Will Provide Sundaes on Wednesday July 9.” I sent a picture of our sign to my clergy friends around the country. Within days, I had responses asking if the Lord would provide Sundaes for them as well, as the heat around the country is pretty astounding! One of my friends commented – “It’s like free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s only it’s the Lord!” I’ve even discussed our sign with one of the ICU nurses at Highlands Regional. It’s a great discussion starter.
In the readings for today, we discover the meaning of blind faith. Abraham hears God’s call to take Isaac and sacrifice him as an offering to God. And he set out to do exactly what God had asked him to do, not knowing why, not knowing that God would save his son at the last minute. In the Gospel according to Matthew, we discover the cost of following Jesus as we too are asked to enter into the covenant call of faith which often seems absolutely absurd. We are asked to love the Christ more than our own family members. In other words, we are to be willing to let go of that which is most important to us if we want to call ourselves followers of Christ. Matthew’s Gospel even goes so far as to say, “whoever does not take up the cross to follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus spoke these words before his own crucifixion. He was being real with those who wished to follow him. Jesus was letting them know that to follow him was radical enough that they would, most likely, be killed.
Why are our churches as full as they are? Because we want to skip ahead to the place where the ram comes into view and the sacrifice is no longer necessary. We want the promise of eternal life. We want the ice cream sundae with the cherry on top, that’s why people gather. We want it to be known here and around the world that the Lord will provide!
(at this point, we’ll get interactive as I tell the story. Practice: (me) “Abraham thought,” (kids) “How wonderful!” (choir) “I have followed God!” (congregation) “Now I can receive my blessing!”)
Abraham started out living life in hopes of the ice cream sundae with the cherry on top too. In faith he walked through the desert, leaving behind family, and came to the place where the Lord provided for him. He thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing!” But Sarah, his wife, did not conceive the child that was promised him. So he set about helping God fulfill God’s promise by doing as Sarah instructed and sleeping with her servant, Hagar. Soon Hagar conceived and bore him a son, and he thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing (of descendents as many as the stars)!” But with Abraham’s new attachment to his son, Sarah and Hagar began to argue over who was the most important to Abraham, and for the safety of the child, God sent Hagar and her son to live elsewhere. And Abraham was childless yet again. But his faith must not have dissipated there because some messengers from God came to Abraham and told him that Sarah would conceive a son in her old age, and she did. And once again Abraham thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing!” But then Abraham heard God’s voice to take his son into the wilderness, to an altar 3 days away, and sacrifice him. He heard God’s voice telling him to kill his own son. And Abraham, who loved God and revered God more than his own son . . . Abraham, whose faith had brought him through hard time after hard time after hard time . . . Abraham left once again for the place God would lead him, and prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, a sacrifice we today cringe to think about, a sacrifice we would easily see as insanity in our culture, a sacrifice that would make the news as a tragedy saved when Child & Family Services stepped in. Abraham began to make his altar. He placed his son upon the rock and took out his knife, instilling fear in his child . . . fear that no child should know. And then the Lord provided . . . the Lord provided a way out for both Abraham and Isaac. And Abraham, through tears of relief, thought, “How wonderful! I have followed God! Now I can receive my blessing.” And he did. But by that time, he realized and God realized that Abraham’s life was no longer about walking in faith to receive a blessing. Rather, he came to experience God’s provision at the moment as enough. Abraham, long before the days of Christ, experienced Grace. He received a gift that he knew was not due him. He acknowledged the reality that nothing mattered except God, and he followed, believing that God knew what was best. The blessing that Abraham sought was no longer important. The fact that God’s will would be done throughout eternity was all that mattered.
We hear Abraham’s story and we realize the extent of blind faith that is needed when we enter into this covenant between ourselves and God. When Jesus said, “37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” he wasn’t speaking in some metaphorical, allegorical speech. He was speaking the truth, the reality, that a covenant with God is not to be taken lightly. There will be times when God demands of us more than we might be willing to give. If we are not willing to give it, we are not living the covenant life. I’ll repeat what I just said because it is at the heart of faith-living. If we are not willing to give God ANYTHING God asks for, we are not living the covenant life.
And, like Abraham, we are to follow God not because of some blessing WE will receive, but because the One who holds the universe is eternal. God is all that matters. We are only temporal (stuck in time). The covenant life demands that we live in recognition of the awesomeness of God and that it change our priorities so that God comes before the very people we love the most.
Jesus asked his followers for everything. And they left everything, they risked everything (as we pointed out last week), to follow him. His followers wondered why they should follow him because they had been taught to follow God. And Jesus reveals his identity to them. He tells them that if they are a true disciple, they will become their teacher. They will lose their very selves and begin living the life of their teacher. And Jesus admits that’s exactly what he did. God was his teacher and he is God. The lines between Jesus and God have been erased because Jesus became so immersed in God that no distinction could be made between the two of them. He teaches his disciples that they too can follow to the point where the lines become blurred. “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.” In other words, if you as my students, take in all that I am and the line between us exists no more because what I believe, you believe and who I am you are. This is a different model than our current culture portrays. We offer more of a cafeteria culture – take the part that you like from this teacher and the part that you like from this teacher and become a unique individual. But in Jesus’ culture, the disciples or the “learners” had only one teacher and took all that the one teacher espoused seriously until the lines between the two of them began to fade. Because of this, Jesus is able to say, “Whoever welcomes my disciples also welcomes me.” And then he continues, “And whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me” , and the one who sent Jesus is God. And if that wasn’t enough, Jesus continues by telling about the kinds of rewards followers receive. If you represent a prophet, you’ll get a prophet’s reward. If you represent a righteous person, you’ll get a righteous person’s reward. But, if you as a disciple of Christ who comes in the name of the Holy one, offer anyone ANYTHING, even a glass of water, you have bestowed upon them the greatest blessing ever. You have offered to them God. (Repeat: If you are a true disciple of Christ, you are also a disciple of God, so anything you offer to anyone in the name of Christ is a gift, a blessing, from God.) For you are no longer offering them some reward that is way out there, you have offered to them the knowledge that the blessing of the universe is simply that God is. And you, a follower of God, have shown them that very blessing because of your covenantal relationship with God through your teacher, Christ Jesus.
But the question remains, are we willing to sacrifice it all so that God can do what God needs to do with us? With others? Like Abraham, we frequently have to live a life of trial and error. We ask, “God, have I been faithful enough for my eternal reward?” and God reminds us that even a glass of water coming from one who is in a true covenantal relationship with God is the reward. There is no need for anything else. God’s presence with us here and now is sufficient.
If any of you have been awake at 6:45 AM for the last week and a half, you’ve seen the comedy of me learning to run. My teacher is my neighbor who, ironically, is a nursing home social worker. (I guess that’s how she has the patience to work with me!) We’ve been doing a combination of walk, jog, sprint, for the past week and this morning my teacher got me to jog the whole 1.3 miles with her, finishing with a sprint. After we were finished this morning, I asked her when on earth I was going to feel the euphoria, the runner’s peace, that athletes addicted to running typically experience. She laughed, knowing that my body was aching and patting me on the back nonetheless. Reflecting on my sermon for this morning, I found that what I wanted was the reward. I had told my teacher, “Sure, I’ll follow you!” “I’ll run every morning!” And in the back of my mind I was thinking, “I really want the reward – a long lean body, a feeling of euphoria to start the day, etc.” My motivation will not get me anywhere. Why: Because my teacher is not teaching me to get to the reward. Rather, she is teaching me to endure the stubborn aches and pains of my body as it pounds across the pavement. I run because my teacher asks me to. And I know that my teacher will push me beyond where I think I am capable of going, yet I will still continue to follow. And that should be enough of a reward for me. That IS the peace. Following Christ is the same way. If we are always looking ahead for the reward that awaits us – a gold crown in heaven, a hearty “thank you” from the person we helped, a pat on the back from our congregation, even eternal life, we’ve missed what our teacher, Jesus, is calling us to do and to be. The journey of running alongside Christ Jesus is reward enough. Though we know our teacher will ask us to go beyond what we ever thought possible, doing things like giving up everything to which we are attached, still we continue to follow. And if we are willing to sacrifice all other passions in our life for the experience of being taught by the Holy One, it will be enough. For even the glass of water we are able to offer our neighbor will be the holiest of moments.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Speed It Up!
I jog/ran today, with a bit fewer walks. My neighbor came home yesterday and pushed me hard. It's 10 AM and I'm feeling pretty good still. But I can tell my calves are going to hurt. They were already talking to me. It feels good to get out there and blow off steam. Someone in the church died yesterday and I'll be doing the funeral tomorrow. With such a quick turn around time and two sermons to still write before Sunday, we'll just say my stress level is a bit on the higher side. But the running helps. I'm going to do it again tomorrow morning as I will definitely need it. It's so nice to have an outlet with a neutral/non-church member person. I'm really going to miss her. She spent our time (when she could breathe) talking about how some families rub off on others and her daughter, who spent most of the week with cousins, is now hitting and back talking and a bunch of other things Mom & Dad will now have to re-teach. It's amazing how one week can effect kids so much. I talked about how busy our summer's been. It seems as if there are "plans" every single day of the summer, and while the kids are enjoying focused time, I think it's important to have down time too. I've alternated the kids' camp schedules this year (they each get two weeks somewhere but never on the same week) so I can have some one on one time with each kid. That's been nice. But the driving back and forth to camps at the crack of dawn reminds me why I homeschool. I hate, no I mean HATE, the morning rush!
Enough for now. I must go prepare for a funeral . . . again.
Enough for now. I must go prepare for a funeral . . . again.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Nada
My exercise yesterday was helping my daughter clean her room. I actually sweated. But I haven't jogged/run/walked since Tuesday and I've missed it. My stress level has been high and I've been exhausted which just shows me I NEED to run, but my neighbor is STILL not home! I'd be worried except I've seen her dad checking on things a few times. It's hard to get started without an accountability partner who is going to be knocking on your door at 6:30 AM. In the meantime, I'll try to figure out how to deal with my stress on my own. The crazy part is that I don't know where my stress is coming from. I don't know why I keep getting tension headaches. Usually it means I'm thinking about something way back in my sub-conscious. Guess I'll try to listen and let it be . . .
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Running Solo
Well, my neighbor was supposed to get home last night, but she's still not home so I got up and ran alone today. I did our "normal" 1.3 mile route and pushed myself a bit harder since it was just me and I was feeling up to it. I added a second sprint and jogged a bit more than usual. I returned home alive and well. I have another headache coming on so I'm working on rehydrating. No blisters today (I had one after the last run) so I guess I got my shoes on the right feet this time (just kidding.) Now I'm just tired, but energized, if that makes any sense. Next hurdle, the dishes in the kitchen.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Worship Marathon
I didn't run this morning since my running partner is out of town, but I did lead worship which is usually a marathon in itself. It was my first Sunday back after vacation which usually means I hear about everything that went wrong while I was gone. But today was rather mild. I preached a really good sermon based on Matthew 10 which is not an easy text to preach from. It was also the first Sunday back for the three who had gone on a mission trip to the Gulf to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and they were full of stories and that degree of gratitude that usually only comes when you realize God has used you to make a difference in someone's life. In addition to that, I was able to tell someone whose water had been turned off that the church was willing to pay the full amount needed to turn her water back on. I was really impressed because those helping didn't even know who she was, yet they were willing to help. All of this takes me back to my goal for the church, made at the beginning of the year. I wanted to help the church view itself as more than just a worshiping community, but also as a community blessed by God to change the world. And I see this happening. It is such an honor to guide these people, and to be refreshed in order to see the vision of where we are going together. Vacation helped give me some perspective on everything. Running is also helpful to me to clear out the stress. Tomorrow I won't be pounding the pavement again (my neighbor is still out) but I may go for a swim and I'll definitely stretch. I'm amazed that even the muscles in my belly and back are sore! I expected my feet muscles and leg muscles, but not my neck muscles and muscles that I didn't even know I had! I'm actually excited about going again!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Running, Day 2
Yep, I did it again and still didn't mind it that much. Actually, today I didn't spring at all because I had a horrible migraine last night and ended up tossing my cookies (of which I ate none, thank you very much) and then tossing and turning until I could finally sleep around 2 AM. We're thinking I was dehydrated even though I assure you I drank water all day long. My muscles just are working continuously and yes, I am sore. New body, here I come. Healthy body, here I come. Tomorrow morning is my day off as I have to prepare for services and my neighbor is house hunting. I may do something on my own on Monday just to keep me working at this. In the meantime, I am extremely hungry and hit exhaustion by early afternoon. Thanks for cheering me on, my friends. This is all good.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Running, Day 1
I did it! My neighbor met me at 6:30 AM this morning, both of us trying to beat the heat and get through with the run before the kids woke up. She made me stretch for a long time and I had muscles that obviously hadn't been used in quite some time asking me what the heck I was doing using them again. Then we power walked/jogged/and in the end sprinted before the cool down and the stretch again. I ended up being outside for a good hour, but only about half of that time was I cardio-ing. Right now I'm still feeling that sensation of peacefulness, but I can already feel a few muscles talking to me. I sure hope I'll be able to get up and do it again tomorrow. While I didn't "love" it, I didn't mind it all that much either. See, she taught me to breathe and to focus on my breathing, much like labor. I figured, "hey, I've been in hard labor for longer than a half hour, I can do this." And I did. It helps that I actually had some really good labor experiences in the past and that I birthed naturally. That experience (besides making me a mother) taught me that I can handle much more than I ever thought was possible. I guess running is the same way. It's like an empowering thing. I can ask, "How much more can I do?" And then I can surprise myself by actually accomplishing it. So I focused on short goals and on my breath. I tried to slow my breathing when it was getting harder (reminding myself of those amazing Buddhist monks who meditate so deeply that they actually slow their heart rate . . . if only my prayers were so intense!) When the mailbox one house away seemed too large a goal, I focused on the branch two steps ahead of me. And it sure did help to have a friend along with me. She was quite encouraging, but wouldn't let me quit either. So I'll be up at 6:30 AM tomorrow too. (she's giving me Sunday off as they are going house hunting -- I'm not looking forward to her moving!) Feeling good. K.T.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Failure! Failure! Failure!
I didn't run today. I got up early enough, but long story short couldn't leave my daughter by herself which would have happened had I run. In fact, I didn't do anything right today. I ran around like a maniac on my first day back to work, grabbed fast food along the way (while my daughter reminded me how bad it was for me), ate some ice cream and even had some cake with my wine this evening. I'm not giving up despite my failing grade, however. My neighbor has told me we're running on Friday morning whether I like it or not. She's decided I'm not going to like her for at least 2 weeks (and the more she talks about it the more I believe her.) To get ready for Friday, she's told me to drink lots of water tomorrow and load up on carbs for dinner -- the multi-grain-type. I'm getting scared. What if I collapse? What if I lose my friend because I just can't run?! (this coming from the person who was always in last place during those "wonderful" Presidential fitness expeditions). Please, leave me with some encouraging words. I'm going to need it.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Here We Go Again
I did not stay healthy over my vacation. But then again, I didn't over-indulge either. I enjoyed ice cream after a brief hike through the heat and mosquitoes on an island. (Aside: We visited an anthropological site on the FL coast that was home to Native Americans who lived there over 12000 years ago -- that's pre-dating Mesopotamian civilization, my friends! There was something extremely sacred about ancient civilization on American soil.) I swam some laps in the pool. But I also enjoyed a few meals that were extremely tasty and high in calories. All in all, I enjoyed myself. But alas, I must return to the world of health. And to do that, I purchased my running shoes. Following your recommendations, I found a sale on Saucony and purchased a pair of shoes that were quite comfortable. I also bought myself a running bra and some nice, light-weight running shorts/shirt. I'm just hoping to get down the road the first day I try this. Tomorrow I return to work and early rising and routine, but I am also going to try to run. Mornings are still nice here . . . not too hot . . . so we'll see. So water, water, here I come. I've got some pounds to shed in the next month and a half!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Two Days until Vacation (and Day 8 of Health)
I'm drinking my coffee with soy milk right now. I'm going to cook a roast in the crock pot today but will also make a really nice raw squash and zucchini salad I found in a Cooking magazine. I'll try to take pictures because it truly is beautiful. I just hope my kids will eat it. But I have learned that my youngest daughter will eat broccoli slaw! Woo Hoo! We called it "veggie sticks" and she was chowing down (this is my no vegetable child). When she asked for some on day 2, I told her I'd tell her what it was and she's like "ok." When I told her she was eating broccoli, cabbage and carrots, she was like "hmm . . . well it's good!" So we're learning to eat our vegetables together.
Yesterday I attended a baby shower at the girls' gym (the coach is very pregnant) and I did not get my own piece of cake. That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but I did it and it was difficult. I allowed myself a couple bites from my daughter's plate, but that was all. I watched as only 1 or 2 of the other moms took cake so I tried to let the peer pressure of NOT eating cake get to me. It helped. I drank water at coffee hour at church instead of punch but I did drink punch at the shower (made with sherbert). Considering the challenges of the day, I think I made some pretty good choices. I found myself really in my stress-eating mode so I grabbed a spoonful of peanutbutter with some soy milk and it was enough to placate my munchies. I now know that I eat when I have nervous energy. I suppose I could use that energy to scrub the bathroom or do the dishes or mop the floor. I definitely need to rechannel that. And I also know I get that stress-eating thing when I'm tired. (I've noticed the same thing with my kids -- when they're tired they are hungry. It's like we all want some sort of stimulus to keep us running on empty.) And I was tired yesterday. I got to see my husband over the weekend, but that meant traveling which, even at under 2 hours totally saps my energy.
I got a great workout on Friday and Saturday, however, in the pool. My mom got dumbells for the water and let me tell you doing laps with dumbells is a cardiovascular experience! I loved it! I also did "water push ups" with the dumbells (or are they barbells?) and it was awesome. Swimming is definitely my favorite sport, but I hate always relying on someone else's pool to get me going. It's also hard to find good-sized pools here. Everyone has these dinky things in their backyards. I want to swim LAPS, not do jumps!
Well, I leave for vacation tomorrow evening. I'll finally get to see my newborn nephew who is now 4 months old, though he was a preemie so he should be about the size of a 6 week old. Then my family is going to the beach -- to see the dolphins, and to take in Thomas Edison's summer house. We're saving Disney for next year, when we have more than "$0" saved.
So that's the news from Arbuckle Creek, where the whir of the lawn mowers wake you up before the sun's up (because it's too hot to mow during the sunlight hours), the pool is closed for the summer (?!), and the kids are out of school with "nothing" to do.
Yesterday I attended a baby shower at the girls' gym (the coach is very pregnant) and I did not get my own piece of cake. That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but I did it and it was difficult. I allowed myself a couple bites from my daughter's plate, but that was all. I watched as only 1 or 2 of the other moms took cake so I tried to let the peer pressure of NOT eating cake get to me. It helped. I drank water at coffee hour at church instead of punch but I did drink punch at the shower (made with sherbert). Considering the challenges of the day, I think I made some pretty good choices. I found myself really in my stress-eating mode so I grabbed a spoonful of peanutbutter with some soy milk and it was enough to placate my munchies. I now know that I eat when I have nervous energy. I suppose I could use that energy to scrub the bathroom or do the dishes or mop the floor. I definitely need to rechannel that. And I also know I get that stress-eating thing when I'm tired. (I've noticed the same thing with my kids -- when they're tired they are hungry. It's like we all want some sort of stimulus to keep us running on empty.) And I was tired yesterday. I got to see my husband over the weekend, but that meant traveling which, even at under 2 hours totally saps my energy.
I got a great workout on Friday and Saturday, however, in the pool. My mom got dumbells for the water and let me tell you doing laps with dumbells is a cardiovascular experience! I loved it! I also did "water push ups" with the dumbells (or are they barbells?) and it was awesome. Swimming is definitely my favorite sport, but I hate always relying on someone else's pool to get me going. It's also hard to find good-sized pools here. Everyone has these dinky things in their backyards. I want to swim LAPS, not do jumps!
Well, I leave for vacation tomorrow evening. I'll finally get to see my newborn nephew who is now 4 months old, though he was a preemie so he should be about the size of a 6 week old. Then my family is going to the beach -- to see the dolphins, and to take in Thomas Edison's summer house. We're saving Disney for next year, when we have more than "$0" saved.
So that's the news from Arbuckle Creek, where the whir of the lawn mowers wake you up before the sun's up (because it's too hot to mow during the sunlight hours), the pool is closed for the summer (?!), and the kids are out of school with "nothing" to do.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
A Healthier Me: Day 6
I'm still doing well. I did cheat with some m&m's, but again I'm still doing much better than usual. I'm keeping portions smaller when the food's not super healthy (like last night was my go-out-to-dinner-with-my-family night and I ordered the early bird special of ribs instead of a whole big rack of them babies! I also ate a few fries, but didn't have to finish everything in my basket). This morning I made a fritatta/omelet with egg beaters/eggs mixed with black beans, sundried tomatoes, onions and some leftover chicken. It was quite nice. I'm still limiting my dairy intake to milk in my coffee when I'm out and I use soy milk at home. So I stood on the scale this morning and it says I'm down 3 pounds. We'll see if it stays that way. But I have been exercising every other day. 2 days ago I went swimming and I'll do it again today and over vacation when we head out of town next Tuesday. When I return from vacation my neighbor wants to teach me how to run. She's just had a baby so she wants to get nice and trim but she's already much more fit than I am. My 30 minutes of running may not get me to the end of the block. We'll see. She insists she can teach me to like it so I'll give it a shot. It'll be nice to have an exercise partner who is not under the age of 10. First things first, however, I must buy some running shoes. Any suggestions? In the meantime I'll keep drinking lots of water and thinking positive.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Day One: Still Ticking
I spent my first day of "eating right" on the road. Truly, not a good combination. But I did pretty well. Yesterday I left for Orlando and didn't get ANY snacks on the road. I was really proud of myself. I arrived at my friend's house . . . she wasn't there so I needed to go get myself some dinner. I went to the grocery store (!) and bought some chicken (not fried) and vegetables. I drank water with dinner. This morning my friend served egg beaters, a slice of whole wheat bread and some fresh fruit. I was grateful. I drank my coffee with SOY milk. For lunch, I was at the mercies of the host church for our presbytery meeting. They served 4 different kinds of salads and yes, I ate them all . . . even the "not so good" ones. There was a green salad, a shrimp salad that was to die for, a jello salad, and a pasta salad. I drank water with the lunch. And then I made the mistake of eating the dessert that was set at my place -- a nice chocolate pudding pie piece (not too big . . . but definitely not good for me). Within a few minutes I was feeling sloshy and tired and I knew it was the sugar. SO, we were still on break so I walked the block around the church and it felt good -- it wasn't a half hour of exercise but it was something AND I was out of my own town. I had a three hour drive home and didn't stop for ANY snacks again. I drank water in the car. And then arrived home where my babysitter had cooked up spaghetti with homemade sauce. I didn't overeat that either and again I drank water. Considering all of the challenges of the day, I think I handled things well. So tomorrow I'll try in my own setting. Thanks for cheering me on!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Needed: Weight Loss Cheerleaders
So I've decided it's time to stop waiting for myself to be stress free before starting to eat healthy and exercise and lose some weight. The scales put me at the heaviest I've ever been and my "fat clothes" are getting tight. My goal is to lose 10 pounds by the time I see my clergy friends in August. That's do-able. I may be able to shed more than that, but I don't want to set myself up for disappointment.
How am I going to do this? 1) I am going to begin by eating at least 3 servings of vegetables a day (this is something I avoid at all costs . . . stems from childhood where I was required to eat vegetables with every meal and I abhorred them. I now enjoy fresh vegetables but rarely cook them for myself. I'd like to change that.) I also enjoy eating fresh vegetables because it reminds me of what God has created for my health -- not something out of a box but something that began, like me, as a seed. In the fall we are going to plant some of our own vegetables, but given FL's climate we have to wait until fall to plant and spring to harvest. The veggies will also be my main course instead of the side dish that always gets pushed to the side.
2) I'm going to drink only water and tea throughout the day -- no diet drinks, no juice or sodas, not even any milk (which I love, but the sugars in there wear me down quickly). I will allow myself one cup of coffee in the morning with skim milk, but that's it.
3) I am going to exercise for 30 minutes 3 times/week. I haven't figured this part out. My daughter's friend got the Wii Fit and it's really fun and it did raise my heartrate so I might hang out there until I can afford one myself. Eventually I'd like to join the gym again, but until I can prove to myself that I will spend 3 months exercising 3 times/week, I won't make that commitment. I would walk, but it's too hot in FL to walk everyday. I may use my neighbor's pool once it warms up a bit more. This is what I'm thinking about.
4) No fast food. This is where I turn when I'm in a hurry and stressed. Beef and Cheddars are my favorite.
5) I will allow myself to eat out ONE TIME during each week with my family and I will enjoy myself, but I will not eat everything on my plate. Also, the veggies rule will still apply.
6) Snacks? this is where I'll need to turn to "sweet" veggies like carrots and bell peppers or tomatoes and celery. Oh, and peanut butter is allowed.
7) I've gotta lay off bread and carbs for awhile, until I can rebalance my body's cravings, etc. Even whole grains are off the list for awhile (sorry, food pyramid, my body can't handle all of those yummy delights)
8) Lean meats and no casseroles.
9) Putting forth a goal of feeling better long term instead of shedding pounds temporarily. I'm trying to adjust my lifestyle here.
It all sounds really rigorous but until I can cross that hump of eating because I'm stressed and allowing myself "treats" for whatever I rationalize in my head it's going to have to be this way. During my trip in August I'll see how far I have or haven't come. In the meantime, I need lots of cheerleaders. Health is my goal. Wellness is my goal. I'll be able to handle the stress of everything else a lot better when I'm caring for myself this way.
How am I going to do this? 1) I am going to begin by eating at least 3 servings of vegetables a day (this is something I avoid at all costs . . . stems from childhood where I was required to eat vegetables with every meal and I abhorred them. I now enjoy fresh vegetables but rarely cook them for myself. I'd like to change that.) I also enjoy eating fresh vegetables because it reminds me of what God has created for my health -- not something out of a box but something that began, like me, as a seed. In the fall we are going to plant some of our own vegetables, but given FL's climate we have to wait until fall to plant and spring to harvest. The veggies will also be my main course instead of the side dish that always gets pushed to the side.
2) I'm going to drink only water and tea throughout the day -- no diet drinks, no juice or sodas, not even any milk (which I love, but the sugars in there wear me down quickly). I will allow myself one cup of coffee in the morning with skim milk, but that's it.
3) I am going to exercise for 30 minutes 3 times/week. I haven't figured this part out. My daughter's friend got the Wii Fit and it's really fun and it did raise my heartrate so I might hang out there until I can afford one myself. Eventually I'd like to join the gym again, but until I can prove to myself that I will spend 3 months exercising 3 times/week, I won't make that commitment. I would walk, but it's too hot in FL to walk everyday. I may use my neighbor's pool once it warms up a bit more. This is what I'm thinking about.
4) No fast food. This is where I turn when I'm in a hurry and stressed. Beef and Cheddars are my favorite.
5) I will allow myself to eat out ONE TIME during each week with my family and I will enjoy myself, but I will not eat everything on my plate. Also, the veggies rule will still apply.
6) Snacks? this is where I'll need to turn to "sweet" veggies like carrots and bell peppers or tomatoes and celery. Oh, and peanut butter is allowed.
7) I've gotta lay off bread and carbs for awhile, until I can rebalance my body's cravings, etc. Even whole grains are off the list for awhile (sorry, food pyramid, my body can't handle all of those yummy delights)
8) Lean meats and no casseroles.
9) Putting forth a goal of feeling better long term instead of shedding pounds temporarily. I'm trying to adjust my lifestyle here.
It all sounds really rigorous but until I can cross that hump of eating because I'm stressed and allowing myself "treats" for whatever I rationalize in my head it's going to have to be this way. During my trip in August I'll see how far I have or haven't come. In the meantime, I need lots of cheerleaders. Health is my goal. Wellness is my goal. I'll be able to handle the stress of everything else a lot better when I'm caring for myself this way.
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