Hebrews 12:7 - Endure hardship as discipline...

Standing at my counter while I make dinner, sweat drips off the back of my hair and onto my neck. It's Monday night and I just finished a really hard BodyCombat class. On Thursday, I ran the Turkey Chase 10K in 56min with my friend, David (@dcborn61). On Saturday, Joshua & I ran a 4+mile hill run and on Sunday, we hiked Stony Brook Park (and by hiked, I mean, climbed a LOT of precarious stairs up to the top of a mountain so we could see the falls pictured here). My muscles ache, I really need a shower and I'm starving, but man, I feel incredible.

I'm inspired to do something.

Evernote reminded me that I had notes from last Sunday (thank you for the sync from my phone!) and after reading through them, I realized that this is something that is obviously on my heart. Pastor Todd (@swirlyfoot) gave a sermon at Church in Bethesda about the saints. He talked about the tough things they went through to become saints but they were never all talk. They had action behind their talk & endured hardship. The sermon was pointed at getting off our butts & doing something instead of just talking about it. Todd told us that each of us could be a saint in our own right if we stopped just formulating ideas and went out to put them into action.

My initial thoughts for this post were about formulating a plan for the next month to get off my butt and show myself what I'm made of physically. The verse above, Hebrews 12:7, is the beginning of a few verses (seriously, go read them) that talk about how God is our Father disciplines us for our own good and and how even when our earthly fathers have done the same, we've respected them. Being able to discipline ourselves to action allows us to correct our own paths.

MIND:
Based on what the Bible is saying here, I know I must discipline my thoughts, my words and my actions to make sure I am wholly good and holy for Him. If I can do that, I'll be wholly good to everyone around me. Being a Christian is so much more than just going to church on Sunday and praying over dinner. And although some of you may not agree with me, being a Christian isn't about just telling everyone that God will save them. Being a Christian is about being an upstanding member of your community in everything you do. It's about who you are when nobody is watching AND when everyone is watching. Finding myself standing here knowing that I'm a leader in my small community, I know it's time to correct my path.

I've always struggled with prayer and downtime. I've always had a hard time just quieting my mind. Running helps  me quiet my mind (we'll get to that next) but otherwise, I'm a million miles per hour in thought. Being able to refocus my thoughts will allow me to be a better Christian AND a generally better human to my community. Ever been around yogis? They're incredibly peaceful to everyone around them. Hmm... we'll see how this goes.
 
BODY:
This goes back to me sweating and feeling amazing yet painful after a few straight days of working out. I'm disciplining my body to do what I want it to and it's respecting me for it. For the last few years, I've been pushing myself to do more but then I fall into a comfortable pattern and end up working out only 3x a week.. maybe. This year, running has become something of an addiction for me but sometimes what I put in my body (fried food, alcohol, etc) doesn't allow me to have the drive to get up and run the next morning. While in this space, I always wonder (even though I know) why I can't break the barrier that shows me what I'm really capable of. In order for me to see results from this discipline of my body, I need to get off my butt and make it a reality.

If you repeat a behavior over and over, it becomes a habit.

My plan is to make these two behaviors good habits. Thanksgiving is now over and Christmas is on its way. These aren't insane plans for having a killer body or being a Christian saint, but they are simple actions that I want to become a part of my lifestyle, not just a phase.

4-WEEK NEW HABITS CHALLENGE:
MIND:
- commit to praying every morning & every evening
- commit to 15-min of quiet time for just reflection every day
- commit to being in bed by 11pm & waking up by 6am every day
- commit to tracking thoughts on paper daily

BODY:
- commit to 30-60min of exercise every day
- commit to eating & drinking only healthy
- commit to stretching every morning
- commit to tracking exercise on DailyMile.com daily

Now that I've written it down and said I'd do it, it's on. I'm ready... are you?
 

Running is healing. It helps me grow, pushes my boundaries, gives me goals, and allows me to sweat out my problems. Running gives me focus and energy while taking away my pain. Running breaks my muscles and allows them to heal stronger. Today, I went for a 5.5 mile run in the rain... with my Vibram FiveFinger Bikilas (like always). A new path in Marlboro, New Jersey with new scenery. Running makes me stronger emotionally, physically and mentally. My rainy running thoughts:

Yikes, it's going to rain. I better hurry.

Why can't I just let go & stop hurting?

Here comes the rain.

"I've got canned heat in my heels."

God, can you just make this go away? I need peace.

Use the balls of your feet, Melanie.

I feel like I'm flying. This rain feels amazing.

No thanks, Mr. Sklarin. I appreciate you trying to get me out of the rain though!

I think I'm going to give up drinking & just run from now on.

If it rains any harder, I might float away.

I love running. Period.

*wipes face* I think you missed me with a few of those raindrops.

So glad I don't wear sneakers anymore. My feet would be soggy.

Push yourself up this hill & I'll let you eat Swedish fish when you're back.

God's got something bigger planned for me. I know it.

You're better than this. Be better than this. You're worth it.

This rain is nothing. It's just rain.

Take it to the next level & show yourself you can do it.

Man, I totally understand why that lady was excited to run naked. I'm DRENCHED!

Wait... would I really be comfortable running naked?

Why am I thinking about running naked again!?

Ok... it would be quite hilarious. hahaha

Go go go go go! You're almost done! RUN FASTER!

WOOOOOO!!!! Yeah! I feel ready for the next thing someone can throw at me.
BRING IT ON!