Blurring the lines between physical and spiritual training

Photo courtesy of zoetnet (Creative Commons)

Running each morning is an act of worship as much as exercise.

Yes, it’s a habit. Yes, it has become part of my morning routine. Yes, I feel incomplete without it.

But digging down deeper, I’ve realized there is more to the practice than just an endorphin rush. With each step, as my breathing settles into a rhythm, my mind begins to clear and a sort of peace settles in. Most days anyway. A song starts in my head, keeping time with my footsteps. I pray. I dream.

The route is decided before I head out, so there’s only enough alertness needed to watch for cars or creatures (like the skunk I’ve seen a couple of times). Running in the dark is preferable because it feels like a protective cover that increases the sense of peace.

The most satisfying runs result in extreme clarity of thought –ideas start flooding in and I fill the voice recorder capturing them – blog ideas, the solution to a problem at work, phrases to use in writing.

Normally a clock-watcher, the time seems to disappear for me on a run. As it fades into the background, I begin to notice the moon, sunrise, clouds, birds singing, deer, a fox.

When I open myself to the beauty of God around me and thank Him for that, He responds by unblocking my mind. I continue to be amazed at how a physical activity can become such a spiritual experience.

When has physical activity stimulated your mind and spirit?

 

Climb That Hill

When you have a large, complicated project, do you dig right in or find excuses to put it off?

I have to confess that many times, I do the latter – there are 2 projects that come to mind as perfect examples. Put both off way too long, and really what I ended up doing is dreading and agonizing about them and kicking myself for being so ineffective. And when I finally did start each of them, I felt so good about accomplishing so much, that I got on a roll and made progress on some other things as well.

That process is worth paying attention to.

There is a daunting hill toward the end of my running route that really challenges me. Some days, I think about turning around and going home the other way, but that would lead to more mental anguish for having given up. If I push through and get to the top, I feel like I could tackle the world! The same is true when I accomplish a seemingly impossible task or project – all sorts of endorphins and energy are released that make anything seem attainable. Bring it on!

In his book Eat That Frog, Brian Tracy advocates doing the hard task first (eating the frog) to make the rest of your day more productive. As a vegetarian, I prefer to say that “climbing that hill” first thing can help you accomplish more in your day. The mental energy that can be freed  up by dealing with the hardest part of your day first is unbelievable. Makes for even more productivity throughout the day.

So give it a try. Go ahead and climb that hill – tackle your hardest project first thing this morning and see what happens. Then comment here and let us know how the rest of your day went.

Will you climb that hill? What does your hill look like?

 

I Feel Free

Have you ever reached that “mind like water” state where time disappears and you are just at peace?

I look forward all week to my long runs on Saturdays, because it’s a chance to challenge myself and run a different route from the same old route I run the other days.

Sometimes, my long runs are brutal – I get hot, thirsty, tired and unmotivated part of the way through and it’s difficult to make myself finish.

I wasn’t sure what to expect today.

I headed out early this morning, so it would still be cool. As I got going, I noticed the  rhythm of my feet on the sidewalk and my breathing, and I thought how peaceful the solitude was after a crowded week.

There was not much traffic. I only passed a couple of other people running or walking.

There were some clouds, so the sun rose gently, not jarringly bright, and the breeze was soft on my face.

I explored a new route, and saw a friendly deer (you can barely see her in the bottom left of the  picture), discovered some beautiful homes, and landscaped office complexes.

Time melted away. My only reminder was my running app that told me as I completed each mile.

After reading Andy Andrews’ ebook The Perfect Moment, I was paying attention. I was intentionally looking for a perfect moment. What a thrill to experience such a satisfying set of perfect moments. The run was incredible. I felt free and at peace.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Where have you felt at peace this week?