When I set out to run early in the morning, my shoes never mock me for how slow they think I was the day before. The road doesn't seem to remember the places where I was thinking that walking would be preferable. My GPS keeps track of each workout--but never adds its own commentary. Every morning, in many ways, is a fresh start. Yesterday's run (or not run) no longer matters. It is just about today. And I find that to be refreshing.
Granted, the runs that preceded today's run have some influence on whether today's run is easier or harder than the day before. But even what went before doesn't determine whether I enjoy today's run. Enjoying today's run is a matter of how this run is. It is not about yesterday's or tomorrow's runs.
The Bible tells me that God's mercies are new every morning. I always wondered how an all-knowing God could not hold yesterday against me--until my kids became teenagers. Then, suddenly, I became selectively forgetful. No need to hold against them the mistakes of yesterday. The lapses of judgment. The ill-considered words. No, I just don't remember that. How does that fresh start feel?
Today was also the first day of the new adventure that is Redgrave LLP--an information law firm where I am a partner and founder. All of us joining the firm have learned a lot over the past few years. Some of the lessons hard, and others just helpful. I enjoyed my CPA Global colleagues, but the chance to return to the practice of law, with some people whom I really like and respect, was impossible to pass up. You can check us out at www.redgravellp.com and see what our new information law practice is all about. And give me a call if we can be of assistance to you.
The fresh start feels really good. Not because what came before was bad, but because it is a new chance to build something dynamic and exciting with some friends with whom I want to share the journey.
Pressing On!
-Ken
The Persistent Journey -- toward authentic living in an inauthentic world
Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Environmental Slowdown
I cannot control the weather. No surprise to anyone I know--nor to me. The thermometer was pushing 95 during today's run at Noon. (Let's not discuss why I wasn't running at 5:30 in the morning when it was cooler--perhaps tomorrow.) I like running in the heat and I like running in the cold. But the environmental conditions, which I cannot control, have an impact on how I run. Typically, I run about a minute per mile slower at 90 than at 70--and that is with the same perceived effort. I feel like I am exerting the same energy, but I am simply moving more slowly.
On hot days I have several choices--to run or not to run; short sleeves or no sleeves; carry water or look for sprinklers; complain about the heat or hit the road. What I do not get to choose is whether it is hot or not. Even if I decided to get upset about it being hot, that would not change the temperature. So why bother?
Sometimes life feels like a very hot day. I want things to be a certain way, but factors beyond my control turn "my way" into "no way." What then? Do I lament the things that I cannot change? Or do I make the best of the immutable circumstances? What can I change? What must I accept? But sometimes I feel like if I complain, or play the "if only" game, or work hard to change that which cannot be changed, then I cannot be held responsible for the unpleasant, immutable circumstance.
But I am the only one who holds me responsible for those things in the first place. I often find my self apologizing if it is too hot to do something outside that I had planned to do with others (or if it is too rainy). Do I really think that it was my fault?
When I was a kid my Dad taught me how to play tennis. In those early days there was not so much tennis playing and a lot of walking up to the net or to a far court to retrieve an errant shot. When I made a bad shot I would say, "I'm sorry." My Dad finally told me that I didn't need to say I was sorry unless I did it wrong on purpose. Wise words from a wise man.
I don't need to apologize to myself when it is hot outside and I run slower than I did a week ago--or five years ago. It might even feel freeing. Who knows? Sounds like it may be worth a try.
Pressing On!
-Ken
On hot days I have several choices--to run or not to run; short sleeves or no sleeves; carry water or look for sprinklers; complain about the heat or hit the road. What I do not get to choose is whether it is hot or not. Even if I decided to get upset about it being hot, that would not change the temperature. So why bother?
Sometimes life feels like a very hot day. I want things to be a certain way, but factors beyond my control turn "my way" into "no way." What then? Do I lament the things that I cannot change? Or do I make the best of the immutable circumstances? What can I change? What must I accept? But sometimes I feel like if I complain, or play the "if only" game, or work hard to change that which cannot be changed, then I cannot be held responsible for the unpleasant, immutable circumstance.
But I am the only one who holds me responsible for those things in the first place. I often find my self apologizing if it is too hot to do something outside that I had planned to do with others (or if it is too rainy). Do I really think that it was my fault?
When I was a kid my Dad taught me how to play tennis. In those early days there was not so much tennis playing and a lot of walking up to the net or to a far court to retrieve an errant shot. When I made a bad shot I would say, "I'm sorry." My Dad finally told me that I didn't need to say I was sorry unless I did it wrong on purpose. Wise words from a wise man.
I don't need to apologize to myself when it is hot outside and I run slower than I did a week ago--or five years ago. It might even feel freeing. Who knows? Sounds like it may be worth a try.
Pressing On!
-Ken
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Joy in the Familiar
This morning's 4 miler was along one of my old familiar routes in Alexandria, Va, just outside of Washington, D.C. It doesn't get light as early in D.C. as it does in Minnesota this time of year, so it was good to be on familiar terrain. I knew what to expect and how far I needed to go to get to 4 miles total. There is something that feels good about being in familiar surroundings, even when far from home. I suppose that one danger would be if I started to think of this "different" place as home--if it became too familiar.
Many days it is an effort to remind myself that this life, this existence, this world is not my home--that my true home is elsewhere and elsewhen. (Yes, elsewhen. It means a different time.) This life is temporal; it only lasts for a short time. My true life is everlasting; which is a long time. This life is very present, but my true life is hidden with Christ in God. (Not quite sure what that means, but it is not in Monticello or D.C.) It is so easy to forget my real home in the midst of all that I see and experience. But I can live life best when I remember that I am but a tourist and a visitor to this present life--my home is elsewhere and elsewhen.
Pressing on!
-Ken
Many days it is an effort to remind myself that this life, this existence, this world is not my home--that my true home is elsewhere and elsewhen. (Yes, elsewhen. It means a different time.) This life is temporal; it only lasts for a short time. My true life is everlasting; which is a long time. This life is very present, but my true life is hidden with Christ in God. (Not quite sure what that means, but it is not in Monticello or D.C.) It is so easy to forget my real home in the midst of all that I see and experience. But I can live life best when I remember that I am but a tourist and a visitor to this present life--my home is elsewhere and elsewhen.
Pressing on!
-Ken
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Not Fun at All
Today's 12 mile run was not very much fun at all. It was hot. My legs felt like lead. Parts of me were hurting that I had forgotten about. And I found myself asking, "Why am I doing this? It doesn't even feel very good. And I am not happy right now!"
Then I remembered. The reason that I was doing 12 miserable miles this morning was to be able to run the Twin Cities marathon in October to raise money for hunger relief in Africa through World Vision. I was doing something that I disliked to day in order to be able to do something that I want to do later. And without days like today, Twin Cities will not happen for me.
If I had acted on how I felt, I would have turned around at mile 2 and gone home. But in general, if I acted primarily on how I felt, I would not get much done. I think that the key is to do the right thing, whether or not I feel like it. This may sound elementary, but how often do we/I/you violate that simple principle? And in retrospect, my life has not been enriched by using my feelings as my guide for life.
I need to base my life and decisions on something greater than what I feel. For me, that means to base my life on the guidance of my Creator. It means working toward goals and objectives that are worthy of the investment of my time and effort. It means not being tossed about by the winds of short-term gratification or doing what I feel like at the moment. It means being guided by ideals and principles that are bigger than just me and my little world. Ultimately, it means trusting the Creator rather than trying to take to role of the Creator.
Pressing on!
-Ken
Then I remembered. The reason that I was doing 12 miserable miles this morning was to be able to run the Twin Cities marathon in October to raise money for hunger relief in Africa through World Vision. I was doing something that I disliked to day in order to be able to do something that I want to do later. And without days like today, Twin Cities will not happen for me.
If I had acted on how I felt, I would have turned around at mile 2 and gone home. But in general, if I acted primarily on how I felt, I would not get much done. I think that the key is to do the right thing, whether or not I feel like it. This may sound elementary, but how often do we/I/you violate that simple principle? And in retrospect, my life has not been enriched by using my feelings as my guide for life.
I need to base my life and decisions on something greater than what I feel. For me, that means to base my life on the guidance of my Creator. It means working toward goals and objectives that are worthy of the investment of my time and effort. It means not being tossed about by the winds of short-term gratification or doing what I feel like at the moment. It means being guided by ideals and principles that are bigger than just me and my little world. Ultimately, it means trusting the Creator rather than trying to take to role of the Creator.
Pressing on!
-Ken
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Trail Markers and God's Will
I did not get lost last Saturday during the trail run. There were plenty of opportunities to do so, but I never wondered whether I was on the right path. Lots of trails crossed the one we were to run on. Some looked challenging and some looked inviting. But the correct path was clear. The marked trail was more than a general direction (run NE for .8 miles), but less than predetermining where each footstep should go. The other notable thing was that the trail markers were not consistently spaced--they were only as close together as they needed to be.
A few years ago (like 25 or so) a number of my friends became interested in God's will. Not just whether God had a will, or what God's desires may be, but the contours of how individual Christ followers could discern God's desires for them--as individuals. At times the mental gymnastics were stunning. Trying to see the hand of God in every little aspect of life. What does it mean that I get a red light at this intersection, at this time. In my dream someone was speaking Italian. Is God calling me to go to Italy?
I am not mocking, but it makes me grin inside sometimes. Granted, I could be entirely wrong and God may care deeply about the minutiae of our lives. But I am not so sure. It is certainly not a matter of capacity. God the Creator has the ability to be involved with the most intimate details of every human life if He so chooses. I'm just not sure that He so chooses. Undoubtedly there have been times, places, and people down through history where God has had a very direct concern that His direction be followed in exquisite detail. But that doesn't appear to usually be the case. Please let me be clear. I am not saying that I believe that God is disinterested--just that He may not have a preference. Does God care whether you have green beans or yellow for supper tonight? Probably not. I do believe that God takes pleasure when we enjoy eating what we have grown in our gardens (and that He has created).
When it comes to discerning God's will, I believe that He wants us to follow His direction even more than we want to. A logical corollary is that if it is important to God, then He will let us know what He wants. I do not believe that God takes pleasure in playing "hide and go seek" with His desires. Sometimes I just think that He has no preference and takes pleasure in letting us make some of our own choices.
On the trail run, when the race director wanted to make sure that we didn't miss a turn, or get off course, the orange flags marking the course were very close together. That way all we had to do was pay attention and we would stay on course. When there was really only one path to follow (single track through the woods), the marker flags were more spaced out. Along those sections a runner could have gotten off the course, but it would have been intentional. If I had spent a lot of time looking for the marker flags where there were none, I would have finished even later than I did. But along those stretches where there were not many flags, all I needed to do was to continue in the same direction until I was shown to go a different way. I wonder if it is the same with following God's direction?
Pressing On!
-Ken
A few years ago (like 25 or so) a number of my friends became interested in God's will. Not just whether God had a will, or what God's desires may be, but the contours of how individual Christ followers could discern God's desires for them--as individuals. At times the mental gymnastics were stunning. Trying to see the hand of God in every little aspect of life. What does it mean that I get a red light at this intersection, at this time. In my dream someone was speaking Italian. Is God calling me to go to Italy?
I am not mocking, but it makes me grin inside sometimes. Granted, I could be entirely wrong and God may care deeply about the minutiae of our lives. But I am not so sure. It is certainly not a matter of capacity. God the Creator has the ability to be involved with the most intimate details of every human life if He so chooses. I'm just not sure that He so chooses. Undoubtedly there have been times, places, and people down through history where God has had a very direct concern that His direction be followed in exquisite detail. But that doesn't appear to usually be the case. Please let me be clear. I am not saying that I believe that God is disinterested--just that He may not have a preference. Does God care whether you have green beans or yellow for supper tonight? Probably not. I do believe that God takes pleasure when we enjoy eating what we have grown in our gardens (and that He has created).
When it comes to discerning God's will, I believe that He wants us to follow His direction even more than we want to. A logical corollary is that if it is important to God, then He will let us know what He wants. I do not believe that God takes pleasure in playing "hide and go seek" with His desires. Sometimes I just think that He has no preference and takes pleasure in letting us make some of our own choices.
On the trail run, when the race director wanted to make sure that we didn't miss a turn, or get off course, the orange flags marking the course were very close together. That way all we had to do was pay attention and we would stay on course. When there was really only one path to follow (single track through the woods), the marker flags were more spaced out. Along those sections a runner could have gotten off the course, but it would have been intentional. If I had spent a lot of time looking for the marker flags where there were none, I would have finished even later than I did. But along those stretches where there were not many flags, all I needed to do was to continue in the same direction until I was shown to go a different way. I wonder if it is the same with following God's direction?
Pressing On!
-Ken
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