Just Breathe

Click here if you missed Yes to God Tuesday this week!

As I've shared before, I'm trying to lose this extra unwanted weight I have on me. I've finally admitted that I am no longer the thin, strong 21 year old with the athletic body. Apparently she is gone forever and has no intention in coming back no matter how much many miles I rack up on the treadmill. I have come to face the fact that I'm a 37 year old wife, mom and soon to be Grandma that must make exercise a priority to stay sane.

So, last Thursday, before my weight loss class, we had a beautiful spring day with temps in the 60's. I wanted to walk the 2 mile trail that wraps around a lake not too far from our house; so the plan was that Alivia and Gene would be at the park playing while I walked.

I left them on the playground and went and got on the trail. I wasted no time in building up a sweat as I began to power walk. My rhythm was good and my arms were pumping as I took in all the activity around me. Fishing, running, couples strolling hand in hand, bicyclists, kids playing, dogs walking their owners and even a baseball team in practice. In Nebraska, when you get a nice day after a very cold winter, everyone has the same idea...outdoor exercise.

When I was going around a little cove of the lake, I heard a splashing noise and turned my head to watch two ducks bathing. My peripheral vision alerted me to a walker quickly approaching me. A gentleman approximately in his 70's wearing dark blue exercise wind pants who seemed to have a walk of power that wasn't too shabby.

Okay, I thought, can't let him pass me. He was a good distance from me, but it motivated me to pick up my already quick pace. I crossed the bridge and started up the hill. I had decided beforehand that when I made it to the top of the dam, I would run a small distance. Not too far since it was my first time out since last fall, but enough to make me huff and puff.

Top of the hill came and off I went. Determined to make the cellulite disappear before meeting up with Gene and Alivia, I ran as long as my body could take it. Didn't quite make it to the landmark I originally wanted to, but I figured a little run was better than no run at all. I began to walk again, but at a slower stride than I was going before when I heard...IT.

IT was the swishing sound of the dark blue wind pants on the older gentleman. I begin to yell at myself within my head,"No way! He can't be catching up with me. I'm at least 40 years younger than he is!" I could hear and feel him getting closer to me and I knew that at any moment he'd be passing me on my left.

"Would it be weird to start running again? Yes, that would be rude and weird Lelia. Just let him pass you BUT keep up with him.
Okay, I can let him think he's faster than me. I'm okay with sharing the lead."

PASSED

"Okay, GO!

Keep up with him.
Oh my goodness, he's really fast!

MOVE Lelia!!
I am!!!
Move faster, you're losing him!
Shut up!"

I had just been left behind by a man who was my age when I was born and there was nothing I could do except eat his dust as he got further ahead of me.

My thoughts began to mock me, "Okay, that was painful to watch Lelia, maybe one of your goals should be to not let the elderly pass you...What's he doing now?" I squinted as I tried to see what he pulled out of his pocket and put into his mouth. His walk never slowed down as I recognized what he was doing. All that came to mind was, "Oh no he didn't."

To add insult to injury he was using an inhaler.
Unbelievable.

I was prepared to walk fast. I was prepared to sweat. I was not prepared to be challenged by someone 40 years my senior who has difficulty breathing.
New goal:
Don't get passed by older walkers who require open airway assistance.

So many times in our walk with Christ, we're not prepared for what will come up behind us. We have to be ready for the unexpected and adjust to what joins us on the trail of life. We can either rely on Jesus for help or pull our own solutions out of our pocket.
Let's choose Jesus to supply the air we need to keep walking with Him. (This is a link to a great post my friend Kimberly just posted on walking with God.)

When we found out our teen daughter is pregnant this last fall, it took our breath away...literally. We could have easily reached into our own pockets and pulled out disgrace, shame and rejection.
Just all sorts of ugliness could have come out of our pockets.

Instead we reached into God's pocket and inhaled His holy breath and relied on Him to give us the air supply we needed to cope and what a walk this has been! Doesn't mean I've handled this like a pro, for I haven't, just means I recognize how horrible I could've made this pregnancy for her if I didn't have a walking guide named Jesus.
He's really all we need, isn't He?

Last night I had my sweet son Aaron draw a name for me out of a basket.
THE WINNER OF MY SPRING GIVEAWAY of Lysa TerKeurst's book, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God"
is....
Kelley @ Aroma of Joy!
Put visiting her blog on your 'to do list'...you'll be so blessed.
Congratulations!
E-mail me your address Kell!

~Many Blessings~
Lelia