I am a Triathlete!

I did it! I completed my first "sprint distance" triathlon! I almost died, but I completed it.

The title is linkified over to where I log all my workouts and races so that you can read all about the experience for yourself. You can read all about my swimming adventure, my biking prowess, and my less-than-stellar run.

What you won't read about is absolute joy that I find in sheer terror. (Read that again; let it sink in.) I long to go beyond the borders of "comfortable." I vacation is the wilderness of "unknown." And I LOVE to go to the edge of "terror."

When I was in high school, my friend, Jeff, and I used to talk about Kamikaze faith. It was the kind of faith that jumped first and feared later. It was the kind of faith that didn't leave anything for the return trip, just enough to get to our destination because it relyed on God to get us back.

I owe a lot of life's best experiences to Kamikaze faith:

• I left for college with only enough money to pay for one quarter and graduated four years later.
• I left for Seminary the same way, and graduated four years later.
• I spent my vicarage year in San Jose, California because I wanted to know what it was like out there.
• I "dated" and married a woman who lived half-way across the country because I felt like she "got me."
• I turned down numerous calls to lead churches as the sole pastor because I felt called to do youth ministry, even as an ordained pastor.

And now, I can add the fact that I have completed a triathlon to the list. To be honest, there were times when I wasn't sure I would survive the swim. I have a bit of a fear of the water that I'm still trying to overcome. But, for 18 minutes or so, I was on the edge of fear, looking it in the eye, and eventually I won. That is the greatest feeling in the world.

Milestones

Not so much a deep spiritual insight as an exciting milestone in my life.

Saturday is my second first triathlon. (Read that again, let it sink in, and then I'll explain.)

My first first triathlon was April 30th. I got there early, registered, got my body marked with my race number, set up my transition area...and then ran like heck to the picnic shelter as the rain came in. Because of lightning in the area, they turned the triathlon into a 5k run, which I completed in 22:48. Not great; certainly not my best, but not bad. But, I have been running and swimming, too, dagnabit! I want to "tri!"

So, Saturday I'll try again. It's a 600 yd swim, which is 200 yds longer than I've been able to do in the pool so far, followed by a 12.8 mile bike ride, which will be less than half of my usual 30 mile training rides, ending with a 5k run, which is 2 miles shorter than my long runs of 5 miles.

On second thought, maybe there is a spiritual lesson in all of this. Over the last 3.5 months, I've been training by running, swimming, and biking. I've worked hard and logged a whole lot of time doing these things. I have worked hard to re-shape my body (I've lost almost 20 pounds) and make it my slave. I was all set two weeks ago...but what I was preparing for didn't happen. God's will be done, as we pray in the Lord's Prayer. By all means, we should prepare for the things that are ahead of us, but even if they don't come to pass, we can rest assured that God has something else, maybe something better, for us in mind.

I'll let you all know how this weekend turns out. Peace be with you all!

Kiss the Son

Psalm 2:12
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

Is Jesus mad at me? It's been a while since I've kissed Him. Oh, I've seen Him, heard Him, talked about Him, preached Him, prayed in His name, and such. But when's the last time I kissed Him? Full on the mouth, embracing, clinging, hanging, unabashedly, in an obvious instance of PDA (and that's not a Palm Pilot!)? When's the last time I've done this? Is Jesus mad at me? Not angry in a fire and brimstone way; angry in a way that just looks at me as if to say, "I am disappointed in you."

The past few weeks, I have felt as though I were under attack. I'm becoming "refocused" by some of my leaders. My plate is getting more and more full. Be that as it may, where I have I gone for help? Where I have I turned my eyes in a search for hope.

In recent times where I sure could have used a hug, did I kiss the Son? Did I even kiss my wife? "Blessed are all who take refuge in him." I have left my high ground, my refuge, my strength. It's time to come home, spend time with Jesus, kiss him, embrace him, love him, and rest. Here I come, Savior. Give me hope.