If you’ve been hanging out with me here for very long you know that I hear God in all kinds of odd ways….secular music and Reba, my cat to name a couple. But this morning when I was on my run I thought I heard Him again and wanted to share this with you…
My three mile route is one hill after another. And the word “hill” is the understatement of the year. It’s great for conditioning but if you’re just starting to run again…it’s brutal. As I’m running…jogging…barely moving up one of the “hills” I started remembering what I used to do, long time ago, when I ran long runs. I started giving myself (mental) advice…
*Don’t look at the hill as a whole. Keep your eyes on the road 2 feet in front of you…(keeps you from getting overwhelmed)
*Lower your arms, hands below your waist…(lowers your heart rate)
*Breathe in deep through your nose and hold for a couple of seconds…now, force the breath out through your mouth…(helps me level out my breathing)
*One foot in front of the other…that’s all. Keep moving…
This is like survival mode, I thought. Didn’t I just go through this in my real life?
When I finally got to the top of that steep hill I was panting like crazy. My legs were tired. My heart raced. Sweat poured. Everywhere. And against my better judgment, which shouted: You know you shouldn’t stop woman. Keep moving…I stopped cold.
Hands on my knees I bent low as black spots flashed in front of my eyes. I blinked hard. My head got tingly. My skin felt clammy. Woops.
I told you not to stop…came the annoying taunt from Better Judgment. Just keep moving woman…slow.
I have a love hate relationship with my Better Judgment. And I was hatin her at this moment. But I started moving. Within 60 seconds or so I felt so much better. I even started jogging again. When I got the rhythm of my breath and cadence back, my mind started putting these thoughts together … I felt they may have been from God…
I’ve been in a bit of survival mode for the past few months. Emotionally. Spiritually. Mentally. It’s been a tough climb. I see myself cresting the hill right now and there is a temptation to stop cold. Just stop the forward motion. Stop praying. Stop reading my Bible. Stop listening. But stopping at this point would make things worse. I’m tired Peeps. I feel a bit wrung out and empty. So many things I based my faith on have turned out to be shallow and naive. I’m a bit disoriented. But I heard The Father loud and clear this morning…don’t stop now. Keep moving. You can move slow. But MOVE!
Not sure if this makes any sense to you guys but it helped me today.
I’m praying for each one of you who drops in…if you think of it, say a prayer for me, that I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other…
always saying prayers for you.
keep moving. love you.
.-= gitz´s last blog ..Foot In Mouth =-.
Makes perfect sense Robin. Must be that season for some of us when this thing called Life hits us hard. I can’t say I wanted to call it quits but there were a few times I just wanted to put my hands on my knees, drop my head and sob (or at least hope for a partial/temporary black out from reality). I didn’t. I had to learn to trust that this fellowship is not mine. It is God’s. Good post R. Hope things are “running” a bit more smoothly for you. Remember: “dangerous” prayers are said for you every day.
.-= bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Some Gave All =-.
Great metaphor. Love it. I get it.
Love you.
Thank you for sharing this, Robin. I honestly really needed to hear that today. I am at a point right now where the most tempting thing to do is to stop moving forward and just ‘be’ while I try to get through a tough spot right now. But until you used a metaphor of running, I never quite understood how stopping actually made it all that much worse. I hope to have this same knowledge from God in my own life to figure out just how to keep moving forward…
.-= Allison´s last blog ..Kiddos =-.
Oh Robin, it definitely makes sense!! And you have been in my prayers since the day I “met” you in The Fog! I won’t stop, this is what friends are for! Keep going… you are getting there! Hugs!!
.-= Chele´s last blog ..Interview with Ann Kroeker and a Giveaway =-.
Oh, I see what you mean……..stopping makes us look around at someone else and wonder why they have it so easy, so different, so something other than us….we compare man to man, and we should be looking to God, right? Keep moving is great advice, my friend.
Suzanne
.-= suzanne´s last blog ..A lesson learned from a dog….. =-.
Funny, that’s how I deal with hills on my bike, just look at the ground in front of you, not how far you have to go. The other day I was on a wicked hill on my bike and I kind of wanted to stop and walk but I couldn’t because my shoes were clipped in and I was afraid if I stopped pedaling enough to twist my foot out of the pedal I would fall over. I’m pretty sure there’s a lesson there as well, I can’t let go of God when I’m in a struggle or I’ll fall. I’ll never look at hills the same way again. Thanks!
I get it! Over the past year, my mother has had a nasty battle with ovarian cancer 2 states away from me and it isn’t over yet. 3 weeks ago, my FIL was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away last Thursday. I have sleep apnea and don’t get enough rest. Major jaw surgery in Sept. should fix that. My BIL asked me last week “how are you doing this?” I told him I feel like I am being crushed. But your story just reminds me if I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other and trusting God, it will all be okay somehow.
Praying for you. I read your blog everyday and love it.
Lanie
.-= Lanie´s last blog ..A Prayer for Henry… =-.
Its a great metaphor Robin. Its so easy to visualize and I feel through your words I am right there on the hill with you. Its certainly been my mantra this last week or so… moving forward or I’ll be swallowed in grief. Thanks for your spiritual guidance today, prayers for you on this journey!
.-= Vicky´s last blog ..The pond, the boy and the… =-.
Oh Robin! I think many of us are feeling the same way. Here’s what I posted for Spiritual Sunday: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious. 1 Peter 1:6-7
The weight of our burdens is always tipping us toward God’s purposes for us. We are stumbling, but we are stumbling forward. We are tripping but we are moving ahead. We are falling under the weight, but we are always falling forward so that we are farther along than we were. David G. Evans
I’m praying for you Robin.:)
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Grilled Peach Salad =-.
Lisa, I love what you just said–The weight of our burdens is always tipping us toward God’s purposes for us. Beautiful. Looks like that’s a quote?
I came across your site just a day or so ago and today clicked on it again; He had a purpose in that click! He spoke in your words to me (and others I here in response). It makes sense… big time. I am in time where the world seems to be moving around me and I am going through the motions, but don’t really feel present. I am tempted to stop. I am tempted to take shelter under any tree or rock that could take me away from the movement all around. He speaks to me too… keep moving woman! He brings me great joys to remind me of His goodness in times of worldly sarrow and personal sufferings. I will pray for you and please know your writing has brough words from Him to me. God Bless!
I do understand and sometimes life is almost overwhelming. It is important to listen to the Lord even when we don’t see any answers . You are in my prayers. Hugs, Marty
.-= Marty´s last blog ..Tablescape Thursday – Still Thinking Fall =-.
Me too! Feel like I’m in the same place! Always a joy to read your blog and to know you, friend! Prayers!
Love you,
Dani
Robin, I swear your blogs come to me at just the right time…always! I am in Al-Anon and am currently “working the steps” with my sponsor and have thought lately about STOPPING!!!!!!!!!! Oh God, it is hard, HARD! And I want to stop but I will. put one foot in front of the other, and not stop and keep on goping. Thanks so much. Love, Pinky
Hi Robin,
Thanks for the lovely comment you left on my blog. I linked to this post in my Friday Favorites.
Lanie
.-= Lanie´s last blog ..Friday Favorites (August 21, 2009) =-.
Robin, remember the trip we took together in 1992 just after my divorce, We went to Savannah, St Simon Island and we talked about your grandmother, remember that trip.? We connected like no other time in our lives. Remember that trip Robin and Remember I love you! Aunt Toni
Perfect timing for me to read this post. Thank you.
Praying for you!
.-= Vanessa´s last blog ..Caught … again! =-.
Hi Robin,
Hope you are resting and trusting……….especially hard with our “adult” children. I just read a post from 2009 and I could so relate and God is speaking to me right now for I have wanted to stop, so tired and feeling so misunderstood with very few people walking along side. BUT GOD…….I ordered Pete’s book, Plan B………I’m sure that if I listen, God will speak. Praying for you and Emma, baby and all……He has a plan.