I took a bit of time off this week, recovering from the 70.3 race. I physically felt a little spent and felt a few recovery days were in order.
The highlight of the week was the Glenwood Community Church Mens's Retreat. It was a great weekend event that challenged us to seek the mind and heart of Christ. Craig Hasselbach, the senior associate pastor at Glenwood presented us with many questions and challenges about seeking the mind of Christ. (Craig is an Ironman as well, completing Ironman Coeur d' Alene in 2005). It is really a blessing to have someone like him who has such a deep love of Christ, and also a personal understanding of the Journey to Become an Ironman. I will continue to pick his brain for any mental, physical or spiritual tips he feels free to share.
Big Rocks... This was an illustration from the past weekend. Each of us got a rock when we checked into the retreat. We carried them around all weekend, not knowing the significance. One of Craig's final messages was a story about a professor who challenged his class. He placed some larger stones (Big Rocks) into a mason jar. He asked the class if the glass was full. The class responded, "Yes, it is full of rocks." He then added gravel to the jar, letting it fill in the cracks between the big rocks. Again, he asked, "Is the jar full now?" The class responded, "No." He then added sand and eventually water to the jar to make the point more clear.
The message the professor was conveying is this: "In life, take care of your "big rocks" first. If you don't, and continue to worry and focus on your "little rocks" you will never be able to get your big rocks into the jar at all." My "Big Rocks" should always be Christ and the Word, my wife Audrey, my children (Kaden, Alek and Rylan) and my family and friends. Sadly, that hasn't been the case for much of the past few months. Ironman training can easily become a "big rock" and it does become an all consuming task. It should be more like a grain of sand.
My lesson from this weekend and my challenge over the next two months is to pay attention to my "big rocks" in life and not forget what is truly important to me. My journey and my training continue. God willing, I hope to see the finish line in Tempe because:
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Here is a new link to a great video clip. Hope you enjoy.
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.'To which, his father said 'Yes' . The father and son went on to complete the race together. View this
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
The highlight of the week was the Glenwood Community Church Mens's Retreat. It was a great weekend event that challenged us to seek the mind and heart of Christ. Craig Hasselbach, the senior associate pastor at Glenwood presented us with many questions and challenges about seeking the mind of Christ. (Craig is an Ironman as well, completing Ironman Coeur d' Alene in 2005). It is really a blessing to have someone like him who has such a deep love of Christ, and also a personal understanding of the Journey to Become an Ironman. I will continue to pick his brain for any mental, physical or spiritual tips he feels free to share.
Big Rocks... This was an illustration from the past weekend. Each of us got a rock when we checked into the retreat. We carried them around all weekend, not knowing the significance. One of Craig's final messages was a story about a professor who challenged his class. He placed some larger stones (Big Rocks) into a mason jar. He asked the class if the glass was full. The class responded, "Yes, it is full of rocks." He then added gravel to the jar, letting it fill in the cracks between the big rocks. Again, he asked, "Is the jar full now?" The class responded, "No." He then added sand and eventually water to the jar to make the point more clear.
The message the professor was conveying is this: "In life, take care of your "big rocks" first. If you don't, and continue to worry and focus on your "little rocks" you will never be able to get your big rocks into the jar at all." My "Big Rocks" should always be Christ and the Word, my wife Audrey, my children (Kaden, Alek and Rylan) and my family and friends. Sadly, that hasn't been the case for much of the past few months. Ironman training can easily become a "big rock" and it does become an all consuming task. It should be more like a grain of sand.
My lesson from this weekend and my challenge over the next two months is to pay attention to my "big rocks" in life and not forget what is truly important to me. My journey and my training continue. God willing, I hope to see the finish line in Tempe because:
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Here is a new link to a great video clip. Hope you enjoy.
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.'To which, his father said 'Yes' . The father and son went on to complete the race together. View this
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
