Time Lapse

How quickly things can devolve. This past month has flown by with lots to do, but running has been sporadic. In the wake of accomplishing the BIG TASK, it was too easy to back off and slack off. But enough is enough. Yesterday evening's 3.8 felt way harder than it should and reminded me that I am not 25 anymore. "Springing back" has become a much more relative concept.

The ordinary drift of life appears to be away from all things healthy and good. As much as I have enjoyed the past few months of running again, and the attendant health benefits, it did not take long for that discipline to somewhat fall by the wayside. (N.B. I have run about 15 times since the marathon, so it's not like I just sat on the couch for the past month, but it has not been the same. (Is someone sounding a little defensive about this?))

Whether in the realm of the physical, the spiritual, the relational, and probably even the financial, the direction of an unattended life is to devolve toward breakdown and lack of health. If you leave a metal shovel outside it doesn't get shinier--it rusts. If you don't attend to your family and friends, then those relationships will stagnate and fall away. (How many high school and college friends do I still have vital relationships with? Maybe 2 or 3.)

Attending to life is not hard or really complicated. It is just so ongoing. It requires a continued vigilance. Not a lot of skill or specialized knowledge. Not always a lot of time. Rarely much money. Mostly just staying with it--pressing on.