CHILLING WORDS

Before Covid, every few days an interesting guy would come to the YMCA fitness center. Even on warm days he would wear heavy clothing; sweatshirt, hood, long pants, etc. After working out on the weight machines, he heads for the treadmill, usually the one next to me. He cranks up the speed to the max, runs flat out for a few minutes, and then stops. 

It's almost like whatever feeling motivated him to get on the treadmill disappears after a really short spurt, and then, "Feeling's Gone".

About ten years ago, I was working with a guy in the media center at our church. Toward the end of the sermon, the pastor asked if anyone would like to come forward for prayer. The guy said to me, "my life's a mess. I really should go forward." I said, "GO, I'll take over!" He put his head down and after a few minutes he turned to me and said, "Feelings Gone".  

Even after all of these years, I have never forgotten those two chilling words.

Got me to wondering how often we are motivated to make things right, but we end up putting it off. Even though it's been more than forty years, I still remember some words I heard while in Art School, from of all people, Pablo Picasso:

 “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone”. 

A SHORT RACE TO RUN TODAY

Busy visitor on our front porch in Dover, PA

Morgan Freeman reflected on spiders during a movie I recently watched,

"Imagine the patience, dedication, perseverance. I happen to like spiders."

Morgan's comment reminded me about something Eugene Peterson said in his book "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction". He wrote,"I decide, each day, to set aside what I can do best. Perseverance is not always the long race; it is many short races one after the other."

Lately on the treadmill I have been averaging 40 miles each week. I would like to say this requires perseverance, but taken in small distances each day, especially when watching a movie, it is actually enjoyable.....most times the highlight of my day. I've never run an actual marathon, but every week I actually exceed the distance of more than one marathon! 

And this might be best. The name Marathon comes from a race run by a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated. It is said that he ran the entire 26 miles without stopping and burst into the assembly exclaiming "we have wοn" before collapsing and dying.

Chuck Swindoll suggests that if we divide any project by 365 we will find that no job is all that intimidating."If you’re running a 26-mile marathon, remember that every mile is run one step at a time. If you are writing a book, do it one page at a time. If you’re trying to master a new language, try it one word at a time. Each day set aside what you can do best." And in the end, daily perseverance will be worth it.

In October, I posted comments from Philip Yancey's "Reaching for the Invisible God". Yancey lives in Colorado and is an avid mountain climber. Personally, I think he is genius at applying life lessons from life experiences. Here is what he wrote:

"Climbing a mountain presents a constantly shifting point of view. At the beginning of the climb I face a sheer wall of granite - thousands of feet high. I'll never make it, I think. But as I get closer I see a thin path following seams in the rock and by taking that path, I hike comfortably up what had looked like an insurmountable cliff. As the cliff zigs and zags the view below changes as well.

At first I hike through aspen trees. Climbing higher, I notice that the aspens actually encircle an alpine lake, previously hidden - though not situated far from the beginning of the trail. Later I find that both forest and lake nestle in a lush valley dotted with lakes, meadows and other groves of trees. Later still I see that this valley fits into a cut on the side of the mountain and streams of water spilling from a lake tumble down several thousand feet to feed a river that runs through a canyon near my home twenty miles away.

Only when I reach the summit does the entire landscape fit together. Until then, any conclusions I might draw would prove mistaken".

There are things I will never fully grasp until I reach my "life" summit, no matter how things look along the trail. But I have a confidence - a hope that I will reach the summit and then everything will make complete sense.

WORDS AND PICTURES

Watched this movie about an Art and English professor, who form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school, in which students decide whether words or pictures are more important. The movie was filled with emotional art, and some of the word pictures were powerful. Like this.

"The brain's fundamental secret will be laid open one day. But even when it has, the wonder will remain "that mere wet stuff "can make this bright inward cinema of thought, of sight and sound and touch. 'How does matter becomes conscious?"

To view the movie trailer click HERE.

TOP OF MY LIST

Professor Denzel

While at the YMCA today I watched "The Great Debaters" (2007), named one of that year's best movies.

FORGET ABOUT THE PAIN

My hope after retirement was to exercise everyday.

SHUT UP AND LISTEN

Maybe silence is golden.

CLOSED EYES - OPEN HEART

Finished watching a movie called "The Bucket List" today. 

The Heavenly Coffee

BUCKET LIST

During our guy meeting this morning we shared some of the things on our bucket list.  It is great to be able to share personal stuff like this in a "safe" place every week.

LEGACY

"Just cause you're dead doesn't mean you can't be useful"

WANDERLUST

Prepare to be swept away with longing for distant places. 

Click HERE to view a series of talks that will give you wanderlust.  Just hit play on any one of these talks while you pack your real or imaginary bags for an epic journey.
 
Almost every day I view a TED Talk while at the YMCA.  As of this year over 1500 TED talks had been posted.  Every week 5-7 new talks are being published. For a complete listing of all talks click HERE. 


(for previous posts on this blog please click HOME button above) 

RITCHEY FINISHES MARATHON IN RECORD TIME!

Hard to believe, but after finishing my marathon today I was barely winded.