more lessons

as i was saying before in this previous post, i think if i was even an ounce smarter than dumb, i'd get the fact that God's trying to teach me some things in this season. 

due to time, i haven't been teaching as much pilates in the last few months, but today i decided to pick up a class... because, sitting around and not being able to do much high intensity physical activity has been KILLING me. i've been bored out of my mind! i don't mean to judge, but what do people do with their time if you're not getting any physical activity?! i truly feel like i haven't lived a full day until i've sweat at least once. but really. resting as the best way to get better? B freaking S. 

so my boss looked at me like i was cuckoo when i told her i was picking up a class. okay, you can call me crazy, intense, or whatever. but really? IT FELT SO GOOD. i've been thinking about this today... this stupid toe injury paralells my walk with God too. tonight, a friend reminded me of p.seth's analogy of how a shepherd breaks the leg of his sheep who strays away from him, just to keep him close. i feel like this analogy is very true of my current condition-- both literally and figuratively. 

its really easy to not want to read the bible or pray when i'm not doing well spiritually. (ex: this week.) it's also really easy to sit around wallowing in self-pity when i'm not physically able to move around. (ex: physically lame me.) but the only way i'm ever going to have a chance in turning around-- spiritually or physically-- is to get back on my feet and start doing something about my situation. when an athlete is injured, he doesn't just sit there on the sidelines. he works even harder by faithfully dedicating himself to physical therapy, working out the injured body part to rehab it to a point where its original function is restored. 

so if i'm expecting to get any better spiritually, i'll need to do exactly what i did today physically: crack open this bible and start exercising those prayer muscles to rehab them. i'm back. no more sitting on the sidelines. coach, put me in. 

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Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. -- Hebrews 12:7, 11-13