Fitness Fanatic

I have always enjoyed any type of fitness endeavor.  Running, triathlons, cycling, and most recently Adventure Racing.

I have spent hours upon hours, running, biking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, orienteering, and the like over the past several years to prepare myself for races and keep myself physically fit.

I currently have the longest race of my life coming up next weekend, a 15 hour Adventure Race.  As I wrap up the training for that event, I went on a nice, easy 5 mile run yesterday.  I typically like to run without any ipod or music.  It allows me to get away from the constant media input I have in my life as it is.

Not that I always have a lot of thoughts or ideas, as more often than not I do a good job of completely clearing my head and think about nothing,  but from time to time I do get some good thinking and processing in.

Today I began thinking about how much time and effort I spend in training my body physically for races and just overall good health.   Then I thought about how comparatively little time I spend getting myself "spiritually fit".

God doesn't ask us for much, given the fact He has given us everything.  Yet, I still find ways to be too busy, or too short on time and push Him aside. 

I don't very often decide that I don't have time to fit in a run, or go for a bike ride, but lately I have all too often decided  that I don't have enough time to open up my Bible on a daily basis.   Kinda sad if you ask me.

I don't have a legit reason or excuse why I push God's time aside, but rarely consider sacrificing a training run.  I don't flinch about going for a 3 hour bike ride, but yet I can't even spend 15 minutes reading the Bible and praying on a consistent basis.

Then I began wondering if these two things really need to be mutually exclusive events?  Would I be too distracted to spend my runs or rides as my quiet time with God? 

These are rhetorical questions at this point until I start experimenting a little.  Either way, my goal is to start spending more consistent and quality time with my personal Savior, Jesus Christ.

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (MSG)

I need to remember that I am ultimately pursuing that eternal gold, not the medal that tarnishes and fades.