It was a perfect evening for a run. Clear skies, cool temperature, just before sunset. As I circled the path around the lake near our home I was really enjoying the evening…until I heard something behind me and looked over my shoulder to see a younger man gaining on me rapidly, his pace more than a little bit quicker than mine. Oh, and he was pushing a baby in one of those jog along strollers as well. Suddenly I felt old, slow, and out of shape.

The truth is there was time when I could’ve smoked that guy. I ran a marathon once. OK, so that was over 20 years ago, but still I did it. I could do it again if I worked at it. Maybe. But I am at a different place now and I have to adjust to where I am, to my current age and level of fitness. And so I have a choice. I can go lay on the couch and dream of my past glories or I can lace up the shoes, hit the trail and do what I can where I am now.

It strikes me that this is an apt metaphor for how I engage in growing spiritually. The temptation is to look at some idea of spiritual maturity that is daunting and beyond my grasp. That can be discouraging. I know I ought to spend a lot of time in prayer and in the Bible, but it just isn’t happening right now. I know I need to engage in ministry in ways that stretch and challenge my faith, but it seems illusive. And so I have a choice. I can be intimidated and discouraged by what I can’t do or I can take the first steps to growth. Maybe I can’t pray for an hour every morning, but I probably could get in a good 5 minutes as a start. You see, in the end, the most important thing is that I enter into the journey. It is less important how strong I am as it is that I am getting stronger.

We have begun to use language around here at FHCC about being on a growth trajectory. Our prayer is that more and more of the people in our church will begin wherever they are and put themselves on this growth trajectory. Take some steps. Join a small group, serve in some area of ministry that suits where you are, commit to some time each day to pray and read the Scriptures. We all need to invest in this and in each other. By learning, serving, and living side by side we can begin to grow stronger.

I think that after I post this I’ll swing by the gym on the way home.