Love on Purpose

During my run this evening I didn't really think about pacing, or hydrating, or splits. This evening I was thinking about love. My heart was full and my mind was occupied with how to express the love I felt at that moment for those whom I love. I was able to run this evening because someone loved me enough to take care of my children--picked them up from after care, kept them occupied, fed them. Parents out there know that this is golden!

As I drafted my thank you letter in my head, I remembered other instances of love in action and at that moment as I meandered through the Vanderbilt campus on a balmy fall evening, I felt at peace. And the spirit whispered to me, "that is your purpose." Ah, to love.

When we think about our specific purpose here on this earth, I think we feel an obligation to be these grand things.  Sometimes in our quest to be a person of purpose, we miss the opportunities to simply love. That's the reason we were created. Don't believe me? Go check the book of Genesis. God created us out of his want to love, to connect. And all throughout the Bible it's about Him wanting us to be with him and love him and show love to us. We complicate things and underestimate the importance of love.

Much of what I do is rooted in love, in some form. I help people because I love people--even when they don't love me. I love on little children because you never know if they're getting enough elsewhere. I workout because I genuinely love it and the results. I run because once I get into a rhythm, I love it. I blog because I hope in my heart that someone is helped or changed by something I've shared. I love seeing people strengthen their wings and fly. And I believe that because I live love, it is given back to me one hundred fold in so many different ways.

Oh, you thought this blog was about running? It is...sort of.

Moving Mountains

". . .I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."~Matthew 17:20

Last night after Bible study I was talking to one of my Fit Club members and a couple other ladies. They were talking about working in a call center and how they sit so much and how hard it is to get their walks in since it's cold. And if you know me then you already know that I immediately offered some un-excuses for their "reasons." I quoted them the scripture about speaking to the mountain and telling it to move. We can move mountains if we believe we can.

I don't know that God meant that the mountain would literally move, but I believe that it's more about your faith and belief being so big that you no longer see the obstacle as a mountain. You no longer see it as this big, huge, insurmountable thing. Too often we encounter "mountains" and surrender all too soon. We see it looming in the distance and accept defeat. We decide that victory just isn't on the agenda for today and go back to merely existing.

Instead of seeing the mountain, I challenge you to see what is beyond it. I challenge you to come up with an un-excuse for every excuse that comes to mind for why you aren't practicing healthy habits. If you are honest with yourself, you may come to realize that you just don't care to remove the mountain; you want the results without the climb. Your faith has to be so strong that you believe nothing less than victory is acceptable. Your faith has to be so strong that you keep pushing even when the scale isn't showing you the numbers you think you want. Faith? Yes, faith.

While on an a hellacious 15k I learned a lesson in faith--I was literally on a mountain!! There were points during the race when I was praying for a bike or van or go cart to pick me up. There were times when I didn't think my legs could take me any further. Once I stopped crying and praying for an easy way off the mountain, I put my shoulders back, turned up my music, pumped my arms and step by step moved forward along the course towards victory.

Victory requires that you be courageous. Courage requires faith. Faith requires action.