I was reminded in physical therapy that if your muscles don’t get tired, they won’t get stronger. But there is a difference between working out untilyou are tired and then crying “uncle,” and pushing throughthat tired and getting stronger.
I workout at home, so I don’t have a fitness instructor or personal trainer to motivate me to keep going. With all my physical therapy exercises, I haven’t even been able to use my Bob Harper Pure Burn Super Strength DVD, and have him yell at me through my television. I have to find it in myself to feel the burn and not back away from it.
When the going gets tough, I often think of Josie (@YumYucky.com). She is the epitome of badass. She approaches her workouts with a take no prisoners attitude. (20 minutes of burpees? My legs won’t even let me think about that!) I know that Josie doesn’t back down from a tough workout, so I think of her smiling face and her strong muscles and keep going.
Recently, I’ve been using this mantra to talk myself through those last few reps:
It came to mind again as I was watching the Olympic women’s marathon. For the last few miles, the lead women were running steadily along. They looked focused, but somehow relaxed–they were still pacing themselves. But when Tiki Galana made her break, the effort showed in her face.
I enjoy going to church, but when I heard that Rev. Lauren Stanley was going to be a guest preacher last weekend, I was excitedabout going to church.
I have been blessed to hear her preach a few times, and every time I come away feeling like I have indeed been filled with the Holy Spirit. Her message always focuses on God’s love for each of us and our mission to share that love with others.
Last weekend, she did not disappoint.
First, she shared her excitement and enjoyment of the Olympics–from the gold medalists to the underdogs who know they have no chance of placing, and may even need some help to finish out their events.
Then, she walked us through this Nike commercial. (Please watch it–it’s awesome and important to the rest of this post!)
If you can’t click through to YouTube, this sums it up:
Rev. Stanley seamlessly tied Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” message to our reading from Ephesians (chapter 4, verses 1-6):
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. . . .
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. …
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Apostle Paul, she said, is telling us to find our greatness.
The Apostle Paul, she said, is calling us–every ordinary one of us–to live a life worthy of the great gifts that God has given us.
The Apostle Paul, she said, is urging us–every last one of us–to be the great person who God created us to be.
The Apostle Paul, she said, advises us that this greatness must be grounded in love and used to lift upGod’s people (everyone) in the service of God’s love.
She then urged us to get up off our sofas, to be like Nathan (the boy in the Nike commercial), and to live another Nike slogan:
Find your greatness. Use your gifts to spread God’s love.
Toast. It’s such a simple thing. But my toast-making has become quite a process.
Ever since we stayed with my Mom during our power outage,
I have been hooked on Pepperidge Farm® whole grain oatmeal bread,
so I start with that.
Then I add a schmear of a buttery spread.
Then I sprinkle on some milled flax seeds.
I top it all off with a generous shake of cinnamon.
Finally ready for the toaster!
Did you read the book Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt?
From the synopsis I thought it had great promise, but it never captured my interest.
I can’t even remember if I finished it!
Do you know where I might have gotten those Flax Paks?
I am out and can’t find them at my regular grocery store or Trader Joe’s. 🙁
I have been running since 2001, through the trials of injuries, raising teenagers, and managing a successful but stressful career. My friends, family, and faith keep me going. ~ Coco
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
