After talking with the Careforce staff we came to the date of May 6, 2007 as the launch date for the walk. Sorry for all the changes but we are trying to optimize the effectiveness of our work/walk.
Honestly, I am upset with myself about my training right now. There are, of course, lots of reasons... Christmas season, snow, cold cold temps, new work on conference administration, tender bruised heart. Ok, so I have decided this portion of the training is about the MIND. I know I have written about this before but it continues to be an area that God is working in me.
How can I overcome the external influences and make a way through to obtain my goals. I'm still working on that but I wont stop, I will never stop. This is a trial that I can use to my advantage in this training. My body is responsive and strong and will catch up in the spring again. But for now it is slow hard slogging. That's ok, just keep moving.
The other day when Paul was picking up some GingerAle for me cuz I was sick, he also surprised me with a 3 dvd set on Shackleton and the story of the expedition to the Antartic in the boat the Endurance. Paul knows how much I love those stories of perseverance and teamwork. Those men did unhuman tasks - like navigating through the roughest seas in the world in a small open life boat exactly to the island they aimed for over 800 miles away! a feat that could hardly be matched today with modern technology. Or scrambling over mountains to reach an isolated fishing village in record time - when repeated today with technical clothing and navigating tools by experienced mountaineers took 3 times longer than Shackleton and his couple of men who had been fighting the ice and seas for 2 months previous. What was in those men? What did they carry inside them that took those bodies past the limits of human endurance and stamina?
Shackleton made a commitment to his men when the Endurance was finally swallowed by the ice, he said, "Well men, lets go home." He spoke these words of hope to his crew as they stood on an ice flow, the summer was coming in hard and hot, and their vessel had just abandoned them giving itself up to the sea.
Words of hope, commitment to each other, hard hard work, and faith. Do we still have any remnants of these virtues within? Do I have any of Shackleton's love for his men, commitment to my goal, willingness to work harder than I have ever worked, and faith that will sustain my hope?
I am working on it. Shackleton is one of my heros (he didn't do everything right, he failed in many areas of his life) but I want to remember the things he did well. Against all odds, against all British navel protocal, against all hopes, he brought every last man home safely. He set a goal and set everything aside to achieve it.
Today, that means loving my best friend, working harder than I have before, and keeping my eye on May 6. Its just one simple step in a long line of steps that will bring me home.
Thank you Charlotte for encouraging me to write again! d
Friday, December 22, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Change in launch date
New launch date
We recently found out that our church will be hosting the 2007 AGC Canada West Conference in April. This is exciting news but it was also really unsettling for Paul as he considered that I would be gone and he would be responsible for the administration of the whole shabang. So, I have decided to start the walk on May 1, 2007 instead and there are many extra blessings that goes with that date. The first and most important is that most of the Ontario Parks will be open within the second week of May - that was causing us some concern. Also, the weather may be a little nicer, although that means the bugs will be out in full force but they would have been anyway. And, now when Paul comes in June I will be around the Montreal Harbour hill - the longest grade on the walk. I will also have more nice days at home to build up again in long days of training. I would like to go to Hamilton to do some hill training, but that might have to be done "on the road."
Lower Blood Pressure
So walking does pay off. I was at the Dr's and my blood pressure was a little low! What a nice surprise. I may be able to go off my bp pills, which would save us almost $50 per month. So he set up an appointment for a 24hr bp test to see if I can come off! I'm sure I will be able to for which I am so grateful. We are also going to do a full physical which is what many people have asked me about.
Pain brings growth
That sounds so cliche - but the truth of it is; the dirty hard truth is that without the pressure that pain brings into our lives we can't grow into mature persons. We have been swimming through some sewage in our life in the last two months and although I never would have asked for this tutor - it has been faithful to show us the way to the Father. How many times I have called out on God, or just the name of Jesus for help to take one more breath. And He always came into the room. He surprised me every time with some measure of peace, hope and perseverance.
This training ground is what I am counting on for the walk - when it gets so that I don't want to go on I can look back and know that I have done it before in harder circumstances - WITH GOD'S CARE AND HELP.
Calling on Him is a simple step I've learned about through the hardest days of my life.
We recently found out that our church will be hosting the 2007 AGC Canada West Conference in April. This is exciting news but it was also really unsettling for Paul as he considered that I would be gone and he would be responsible for the administration of the whole shabang. So, I have decided to start the walk on May 1, 2007 instead and there are many extra blessings that goes with that date. The first and most important is that most of the Ontario Parks will be open within the second week of May - that was causing us some concern. Also, the weather may be a little nicer, although that means the bugs will be out in full force but they would have been anyway. And, now when Paul comes in June I will be around the Montreal Harbour hill - the longest grade on the walk. I will also have more nice days at home to build up again in long days of training. I would like to go to Hamilton to do some hill training, but that might have to be done "on the road."
Lower Blood Pressure
So walking does pay off. I was at the Dr's and my blood pressure was a little low! What a nice surprise. I may be able to go off my bp pills, which would save us almost $50 per month. So he set up an appointment for a 24hr bp test to see if I can come off! I'm sure I will be able to for which I am so grateful. We are also going to do a full physical which is what many people have asked me about.
Pain brings growth
That sounds so cliche - but the truth of it is; the dirty hard truth is that without the pressure that pain brings into our lives we can't grow into mature persons. We have been swimming through some sewage in our life in the last two months and although I never would have asked for this tutor - it has been faithful to show us the way to the Father. How many times I have called out on God, or just the name of Jesus for help to take one more breath. And He always came into the room. He surprised me every time with some measure of peace, hope and perseverance.
This training ground is what I am counting on for the walk - when it gets so that I don't want to go on I can look back and know that I have done it before in harder circumstances - WITH GOD'S CARE AND HELP.
Calling on Him is a simple step I've learned about through the hardest days of my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
