Just Get ‘Er Done

Friday was a ‘just get ‘er done” day.

If you read yesterday’s post (You Gotta Refill The Bucket) you know I woke up feeling pretty empty. I’ve made a point each day of the ride to remind myself how blessed I am to have this opportunity. I did that Friday morning, but I wasn’t feeling it.

As I got ready and ate breakfast I tried to manufacture a positive attitude. Then we went outside and encountered a 15 mph wind blowing straight north. I faced an entire day riding directly into the wind.

My pretend-optimism disappeared. I grumbled and griped and snapped at Becky a couple of times as she helped me get on the bike. As I pulled slowly away from the hotel I wondered if this might be the day I’d fail. Maybe I’d crank a mile or two and just give up.

But something odd happened. Five miles passed, then ten, then fifteen. By the time Becky caught up I’d done sixteen miles. I was actually having a decent ride.

We met again at about 25 miles. Our friend Scott Kissel left a voice mail on Becky’s phone in response to yesterday’s post. He wanted us to know he was praying for us, and he reminded me that I could lean on God’s strength.

That message meant a lot. It reminded me that I’m not doing this by myself, that we’re Together on a journey of Hope.

I thought about Hebrews 12:1:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I am indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses on this journey. Today, I felt your strength.

By mid-afternoon I’d completed 43 miles. It wasn’t the prettiest or the fastest ride I’ve done. It certainly wasn’t the easiest. But I did it.

It was a “just get ‘er done” day.

You’ve had those days. Every parent, spouse, student, employee, business owner, and dream chaser encounters those days. You don’t feel like getting up. You’d rather check out, but you don’t.

You made promises. People count on you. Your commitments matter more than your temporary feelings. So you show up. You just get ‘er done.

As I cranked along today I realized that I liked what I was doing even though it wasn’t easy or comfortable. That seemed sort of odd until I remembered that God values my character more than my comfort.

When President Kennedy challenged us to send a man to the moon in 1960 he said, “We choose to do this not because it is easy. We choose to do it because it is hard.”

That’s why I’m doing this ride—not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard. And when something’s hard and uncomfortable, you’re going to have days when you’d rather watch TV.

But you don’t, because life is long-term and commitments matter. So you set your feelings aside. You show up.

You just get ‘er done.

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