I think a lot about training.
I’m certainly not a personal trainer. I’m not even especially good at my own training, for cycling or for other, more important parts of my life. I think about training because it’s a great metaphor for what we’re all doing.
We’re constantly preparing, growing, learning, becoming. Those are all acts of training. They’re acts of discipleship.
So with a new year I’m thinking about folks who might want to get involved in FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ’16. This is the time when a lot of people say Wow, I’d LOVE to do something like that!
God made us for “something like that.” He made us to desire community, to seek others who share our interests and passions. He made us to seek opportunities to serve, to be part of something bigger than ourselves. He made our hearts to break for abused kids.
We see it when we talk to people and they smile and their eyes light up as they envision possibilities and see themselves in the middle of this crazy thing. “I wonder … ”
And too often a sadness slowly extinguishes the light, sadness borne of resistance. “I’m not in shape, I don’t know how to fund-raise, a week is a lot of time…”
However sad they feel, I’m more sad for them. I’m sad because I know folks who stepped beyond the resistance, overcame the adversity, and followed an amazing dream. Those folks wouldn’t trade their experience of struggle and triumph for anything.
But the “struggle” part, the “stepping beyond the resistance”–that’s the training. And here’s a simple, hard truth.
Training Involves Sacrifice
Training will cost something. Effort. Time. Comfort. Money. Perhaps something greater.
Training, done correctly, is always about long-term, but we seek shortcuts. The truth is that sacrifice means you’ll need to sacrifice something. Sorry.
Doesn’t mean training can’t be fun, or deeply rewarding and satisfying. Our team has a blast cycling together, sweating together, serving and growing closer to God and to each other.
Training means nobody’s arrived; we all begin each day where we are and try to move forward. If you’re out of shape you start slow and trust you’ll be ready in six months. If you don’t feel confident about fund-raising you ask for help.
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Training is about much more than cycling. Jesus didn’t choose disciples who were all trained and ready to go. He picked ordinary, uneducated guys, said, “Follow Me,” and trained them along the way. It wasn’t easy then.
It’s not supposed to be easy now.
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Maybe you’ve been following this crazy story for a while, or maybe you’re new here. Is this the year for you to jump in?
Check out our web page: FRONT RANGE FREEDOM TOUR ’16
It’s gonna be a blast!