25 Days Remaining: Round 2

I wanted to run without music this morning.  Music really helps motivate me, but I wanted to battle my mind alone.  And it was a battle. I ran a mile to warm up and challenged myself for a fast run - 2.4 miles hard. I wanted to battle my mind because I knew it would try to convince me out of running fast.

I have let my mind win this battle many times before.  The first half of the run, it won - 1.2 miles in 9:21.  On the way back I realized something huge.


How many times do we settle for less than greatness? 


And how many times do we let our mind creatively figure out a way to justify our lack of effort? 


Passing the halfway point, I wanted to kick that 9:21's butt and run faster the second half of the run. Gah! This is when my body started complaining too! My thighs were heavy, my lungs were tired, my feet were weak. Then I realized the second huge point.

Does your whole body know what greatness feels like - or just your mind?


I realized my body does not know what it feels like to be a great runner yet. My lungs, legs, and feet cannot say, "We've experienced the pain of growth and are we know what greatness feels like." And I kept asking myself that question: Do my legs know what greatness feels like yet? Do my feet know? Are my lungs familiar with the breaths of the last stages of a three mile sprint? No... not yet.

Most importantly - ask yourself this - Does your heart know what greatness feels like?  Because I bet if you look deep enough, you can answer that question - our hearts know greatness when we see it or experience it. But the bigger question is this: Are you going to let your heart know what greatness feels like?


Letting myself feel greatness - and believe I can reach my full potential - is one thing I've definitely sacrificed. In fact, I have surrendered many things to God before - my worries, my stresses.  But I know in surrendering worry and pain (meaning, letting God shoulder them so I don't have to) I've in turn surrendered my full potential.

Will God help you become the great man or woman He created you to be? Without question - He's always standing there when you're willing to call out for Him.

Will God hoist you up on a soft, cushioned chair and carry you to greatness? Maybe not so much.

So don't give up until your body, soul, and mind know greatness - then strive to become even greater. 


Oh, and I DID kick that 9:21's butt - by a full minute.