Thankful for Intervals

It’s time to begin again, and I am thankful for intervals. It sounds simple, but before my daughter, Amy, introduced me to interval training, I’d always trained by running straight through. Intervals are when you alternate running and walking. For example, you may run 60 seconds then walk 30 seconds and repeat until you have completed your distance.

This actually helped me improve my time and go longer distances. The walking moments also provide a chance to take in the views better. Now, after a fairly long break, I’m starting running again and doing it with interval training.

Throwback pic – a family run (just missing Dave).

Life is full of intervals, too. There are seasons and rhythms, like day and night, by design. There are holidays that mark the moments throughout the year. I love that! May you grow through each interval and enjoy the views along the way.

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

God’s design – following it leads to flourishing!

The Goat in the Road

He stood there in the middle of the road watching me as I ran toward him. When I came closer, he trotted toward the gate and failed at running through it. He was pushing against the wrong end. Quickly he dashed to the other, open end and made it back into the safety of his meadow. I closed the gate behind him and watched as he rejoined the sheep and other goats meandering or laying about in the soft, green grass.

While running, I’ve encountered rabbits, squirrels, foxes, dogs, chickens, and even a cow once, but this was the first time I came upon and startled a goat in the road. He had a beautiful big pasture with a creek running through it to play in, yet he was out in the danger of the road. It made me think about freedom and boundaries and rules. As the saying goes, “freedom is not freedom from, but freedom to”, freedom to do what we ought to do. Let’s celebrate our freedom and use it wisely. Happy 4th of July!

“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.” (Galatians 5:13)

“Freedom without virtue reduces men and women to beasts.”

– Erin Kunkle

Leave It!

Pink post it notes, carpet, a wiffle ball, tissues, socks, a toy sheep’s leg, the button on boxer shorts, a duplo Lego, and poisonous mushrooms. What do all of these have in common? These are just some of the items that our dog, Zoey, has eaten.

Zoey with something she’s actually allowed to have.

If I’m with her and see her about to eat something, I say, “Leave it!”. She does, most of the time. She needs someone to keep her accountable. I’m the same way. I don’t try to eat the carpet, but I do other foolish things. I’m thankful when someone is willing to speak up and keep me going the right direction.

Right now, my daughter, Amy, is helping me tremendously, as we are training to run a marathon. It’s been fun planning together and keeping each other updated on our progress. She is such a great encouragement to me and definitely helps keep me on track! Tomorrow will be the greatest distance I’ve ever gone – 15 miles. I am so grateful that I will be running with Amy and not on my own!

Amy and me at the Coastal Delaware Running Festival half marathon in November, 2021.

Thankfully, Zoey has survived all of her culinary adventures. I don’t know if her habit of eating absolutely anything will ever be broken. In the meantime, I will keep watch and continue working on teaching her and holding her accountable. Who is holding you accountable, and who are you helping in the same way?

“Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

“True friendship is God’s editor, chipping away at my old self and cheering on the new.” – Steve West

What’s Your Pace?

She walked extremely fast, at all times. I remember as a kid trying to keep up with my mom’s pace. In her much later years, her pace slowed a lot. Finally, I was slowing down for her to keep up with me, and I did so gladly, enjoying every moment spent with her.

Our pace varies in life, and this is good and necessary. Are you running right now or leisurely walking? Go ahead and slow down at times, and sprint all out at times, but keep going!

The most important thing is whose company you keep as you amble or run along. Amazingly, the Lord invites us to walk with Him! He never leaves us behind and seems to graciously match His pace to ours, tenderly leading us, if we only allow Him to.

I will always treasure memories of walks with my mom. She is now in heaven with the Lord, and when I do see her again, I hope I’ll be able to keep up!