Pain as Progress

So I started excising again this week! When I went to sit down today I felt that sore shakiness in my legs, arms and back. I really missed that. The soreness. My friend Salone and I used to have this running joke as dancers, "Ah, hurts so good." But today I understood that pain is a return on an investment.

That soreness the day after my hour of Yoga or Pilates it's a receipt for a deposit I made in my life for myself. Feeling it is proof that I worked, that I tried. Even if I didn't get every move right or couldn't hold every pose, or I could only do 10 of the 20 crunches I showed up. I gave all I could. And now my muscles are saying "Woo! That was crazy! But thank you." One day every place that is sore will be stronger, healthier, and glowing with gratitude for the work.

There is this thing one of my yoga videos says and I love hearing it, because every time I do I realize how important it is in every area, not just exercise.

"Honor your effort to come to your practice today."

She says it at the beginning. Before I have even moved an inch because there, still on my mat I've already done the most important thing, I showed up.

Everything I Truly Need

I'm not missing anything.

Everything I have right now is everything I need to be successful. I may have too much. In fact that may be the source of the problem. I have too much pride, too much time on my hands, too many plans and expectations. But I don't have too little.

One look at a day in the life of people struggling in this country, in this world, and I can see plainly that I of all people should never complain that I don't have enough. And if I can't complain about that then how on earth can I say I'm missing out? Perhaps the good things I could have are passing me by because I'm letting them. Maybe I'm even giving them up, forfeiting my own joy, because I'm expecting it to look different.

Lord, if that is the case, I don't want to do that anymore. I do not want to waste another minute mourning, sulking or complaining. I would like to live a life of faith and gratitude. An audacious life in which I assume that everything I truly need I either already possess, or is on its way.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

The Steep

I love tea, like a whole lot and because of this I am almost always drinking a cup. The frequency of one of my favorite pastimes has made me somewhat of a connoisseur, maybe not of tea itself (don't quiz me on whites versus blacks) but of the tea drinking experience. One of the aspects of this hobby is preparation. I know what you're thinking, "It's tea Ina. You boil water then dunk the tea bag, it's not rocket science." But there is an art to tea preparation, and I recently realized, a very important spiritual lesson to be learned from that art. It's called steeping. You pour the water over the bag then close a lid over the mug or pot allowing the tea to saturate the water.

What's the point? Well you know how you drink tea and think "I barely taste anything," then you take the last two sips and think "so that's where all the flavor went!" When I let my tea steep for about two minutes the flavors are more evenly distributed and it makes for a better taste the whole mug-ful through!

I've noticed that when God is teaching me something new He does it in pieces; just the concept first, the shape of the lesson. Then He goes back over it with a sermon, song, book, or conversation and that helps me truly grasp specifics and action items. I love the process because it reassures me of God's love for me, that He would take time to not only teach me something but break it down into parts so that the lesson becomes part of my inner landscape. He isn't just teaching me, He is cultivating me.

After my most recent encounter it occurred to me that there was something I could do to help me lock in these new lessons. I can take a page from my book of tea love and let the lesson steep. I can close the lid on these new thoughts, scriptures, and prayers by being still and quiet with them consistently. This way the flavors of these lessons will be evenly distributed throughout my life. Then, the taste of my life, poured out for Christ will be flavorful, balanced and delicious.

Yummmm,

Ina