The Treadmill, a Skateboard and Making Spiritual Progress

As I was getting ready to walk on the treadmill this morning, I was thinking about how beautiful it was outside. It was a cold, crisp day. Even a little crunchy since we had sleet, ice and snow overnight. I was very excited that even as I was pushing myself to exercise I would still be able to enjoy the view from the garage where the treadmill calls home. When I stepped up on the treadmill, got snapped on and start to walk, I looked up and out the windows to lose myself in the beauty of God's creation. This is what I saw.

What? How in the world did those windows get that dirty? I immediately stopped the treadmill to do what had to be done.

So much better! This little incident reminded me of something that happened about a month ago. Gene came in from the garage with the unbearable news that our treadmill had died. I couldn't believe it. We have only owned it for 15 years. But unlike a great number of treadmills that become glorified clothes racks, we actually use ours. All the time. I was depressed. How was I going to lose all that baby fat from our adoption of Noelle 5 years ago? This couldn't be happening. So I moped around for a week or so. That dead hunk of metal in the garage was never far from my mind. I certainly couldn't exercise outside. When the temperature drops below 35 degrees this body doesn't go outside to exercise. 

Eventually I decided to go use the philosophy that I live by concerning things that don't work. "If it is already broken, how much damage can I possibly do if I try to fix it myself." On my way to the treadmill, I picked up my bag of tools and set out to conquer. Gene had told me that it was still making noise but that the belt wasn't moving. I turned it on and listened for a minute to try to decipher the problem. As I was listening to the whine of the motor I looked down to discover what had "broken" our treadmill. Crammed under the belt was a skateboard. I am no mechanical genius but even I could figure out that with a skateboard blocking the belt it was unlikely to run. When I removed the offending blockage the treadmill was once again doing what it was made to do. And Gene is back to using it as his excuse for allowing himself an extra scoop of ice cream. "I ran on the treadmill!" 

I am very thankful for our treadmill. Gene runs on it, I walk on it. We keep going. When I took the time to figure out why it wasn't working, I discovered that it was an obstacle easily removed from the path. Now we are moving again.

There are so many things that block our path to spiritual progress in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. If there is something that is blocking your way, I challenge you. Take some time. Evaluate the obstruction. Pray for "eyes to see." Move that junk out of the way. If it is too big to do alone, find a friend, counselor or pastor that will help you to get past the barrier to a more intimate relationship with Jesus. You will be a more healthy person and you will be doing what you were made for.

Hebrews 12: 1-2a

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."

Speaking of Exercise, here is an oportunity to exercise being mission minded:

http://milesformuia.blogspot.com/

Peggy and her husband, Rick are sweet friends that we met in China. Our families were in a group that traveled together to get our daughters. 

The NFL, The Blind Side and God's Mercy to Me

I really like the movie The Blind Side. It is the story of a high school age boy that has no family. Through different circumstances he gets to attend a private school, becomes a part of a family, plays football, and eventually goes to college and then plays in the NFL. This is the true story of Michael Oher. The movie is incredible. One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Leigh Ann Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock is encouraging Michael, as the left tackle, to protect the quarterback. 

Leigh Anne: "This team is your family Michael. When you look at him(the quarterback) you think of me, how you have my back. Are you going to protect your family Michael?"

Michael Oher: "Yes ma'am."

At the beginning of the movie you hear an explanation of the position that Michael plays : "The left tackle's job is to protect the quarterback from what he can't see coming. To protect his blind side." A left tackle has to train to be strong, to be wise, to know when to go forward and when to pull back in order to protect the quarterback. He must understand when to tackle the opponent and when to stand guard and be watchful. It is long and hard work that takes daily discipline to be successful. It is rarely recognized by football fans.

There have been times that I have wondered about my life. While growing up in a family of eleven and mostly going unnoticed I wondered, "Is this all there is to my life?" In college and in the early years of our marriage I wondered again, "Is this what my life will be like?" As I became a young mother of two in diapers I was pretty sure that my life was all about feeding, changing diapers, and doing that all over again day after day. As my two older children grew I have had many jobs outside of our home, some paid, most not. Still there were times when the question came back, "God, Is this what my life is supposed to be about?" Please don't misunderstand, I love my husband and I love my children, more than words could ever express. I have given my life to loving and serving them and hopefully a few other people throughout my years. I just have wondered if my life so far has really made a difference.

Several weeks ago I was asked by a friend, "What exactly is it that you do?" To be honest I was stunned. I was completely at a loss for words. I said nothing, but that question has haunted me. What is it that I do? What is my life about? Though I have talked to my husband about this, and he has been very encouraging, still I couldn't find the answers that I felt that I needed. This week in the midst of having the flu I had one of those moments when I felt as if God smacked me on the back of the head and spoke in that still small voice, "Kat, do you still not get it?" Being sick had nothing to do with this revelation, but being quiet and still had everything to do with getting the answer that I have been seeking for years. "What is my God-ordained job? Why did He put me here? What is it that I do?"


Are you curious? Have you figured it out?


My job, my purpose is to be a left tackle. A left tackle for my family, for my friends, for my church family. I am to protect the people around me. To see what is coming. To recognize when danger is coming. To protect the "blind side."


Many years of spiritual gift assessments have helped me to understand the gift that God has given me to see things that may or may not be seen by others. I have never thought much about the reason that God would give me this ability.


My husband, Gene is a pastor. If there is anyone who needs a left tackle, it is a pastor. God has called me to be the "left tackle" for this "chosen man of God." That just gets me excited. Gene needs me. I protect his blind side.


My son, my daughter-in-law, my daughters, my grandchild, my friends and church family all need a left tackle in their lives and I want to be the one that God entrusts with that calling. I may not be the smartest or strongest, or most eloquent player on the field, but I am in the game. I need to be training hard to recognize the difference between the temporary and the eternal, to be so trained in God's ways that I will see when danger is ahead.


I have a more clear understanding of what I am to be doing now. I know that I will not be able to protect from every painful, dangerous, or devastating thing that comes but I am going to give all that I have to fulfill the calling that God has graciously placed on my life.


"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." 2 Corinthians 4: 1

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4: 18