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This past Saturday, I ran my first race. I've run for a couple of years now, but never really had much interest in racing. This was a nice easy 5K here in town and after some persuasion from a friend, there I was. I had three goals: Don't get lost. Don't lose my keys. Finish in under 36 minutes. (That's a little under a twelve minute mile pace. Not very fast.)I met my goals. Maybe the reason I met them is they weren't especially audacious. I was number 82 out of 171. Runners and non-runners alike were very supportive and encouraging. 'You ran a race- that alone was a great thing,' they said. Truth be known, I should have been able to finish in under 33 minutes based on my times from this past summer. With training, effort and commitment, 27 minutes isn't impossible. But then again, maybe it is. 30-33 minutes sounds better to me. Doable, but not too taxing.
The thing is, that complacency invades the rest of my life, especially my spiritual life. I tend to settle for a life that qualifies as Christian, but doesn't require much effort or investment. I get satisfied with showing up and going through the motions.
In John 10:10, Jesus says "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." More abundantly. In the Greek, that's beyond abundant, superabundant even, or superior (in quality), exceedingly, beyond measure. Life to the fullest.
The best part about it- I don't even have to break a sweat. The hard work has already been done.
Are you living that superabundant life? What's holding you back?
(To my friends who have heard this story… I ask for your patient indulgence.)
After a week of normal running and super aerobic VBS music, my knee seems to be ready to resume my plan to hit five miles (continuous) before the season is out. With football season right around the corner, my son has been getting up and running my last mile with me. For a time, my daughter ran with me, but she's decided she's more of an afternoon runner. Even so, it's fun to have a buddy, and it's fun to coach my kids along. 
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I haven't run for the last week, not by choice. The muscles behind my knee let me know I'd overextended them. Maybe I have an inherent weakness. Maybe I didn't properly prepare. Maybe I took a wrong step. The thing is, I didn't realize I'd pulled those muscles while I was running. It wasn't until later that evening, when it hurt to walk or come down the stairs that I knew. This isn't the first time, either. Those muscles have sidelined me even during the winter when I'm not running.
I have now run enough to get chafed. I'm not sure if that's a good milestone or a bad one, but it is a memorable one. The sting will transform that relaxing, post-run shower into a prying-yourself-from-the-ceiling moment. (Or worse, depending on where you happen to get chafed.)