Nougat 12

What kind of athlete are you? And how do you prepare yourself for this race called Life? Today’s Holy Nougat offers practical solutions.

“Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us,”

Hebrews 12:1 TLV

When involved in a race, it is especially important that we understand what kind of race it is. Is it hurdles, sprint, marathon. That helps us pace ourselves in the race. I noticed that these days the clothing has become a bit skimpier – even for the men – and the argument is it’s more ergonomic. In other words there’s less stuff to pull the athlete back in the wind (or something like that).

We are encouraged to carry a similar concept on our spiritual journey; whether it is the one, two , four or eight hundred meter or a full five thousand marathon. Of course, there is a sense in which we’re all doing hurdles, for obstacles, past and present, become hurdles to surmount by God’s Grace. Equipped with this knowledge, we are better able to run with endurance.

Now here’s an irony.

Many of us actually use weights in our exercise routines. Weight build strength, muscle mass AND offer the ability to go further faster. Others of us use resistance bands. Though elasticized, those bands hardly budge and so help us as we do repetitions .

When placed in the context of the nougat and of spiritual lives; it may seem counterintuitive. But, we note that we don’t see any great athlete IN their meet wearing weights or using resistance bands. They run with endurance by setting aside the weights, the resistance bands and any other impediment. My theory is, when faced with the weights; allow them to strengthen us, then move on. When impeded by resistance bands; encounter them and engage with them as is possible for our growth, and move on. And while the amount of material is a point of serious consideration in the natural; we recognize that spiritually – less is more.

We shed old attitudes, convictions, fears, and practices so we run our best race. I hasten to remind us that when clothed with God’s Spirit we can overcome hurdles, stretch resistance bands and gain the spiritual strength required for the race set before us. That applies to sprints, distances or marathons.

By God’s Grace we run with endurance!

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May all we seek be found in Christ