Mud and Marriage : Parallels of the Journey

So, I thought it was a good idea.  That statement can cover so many things. In this case, it relates to my past weekend and a muddy good time.  My husband and I decided to try our first 5K.  We are not runners, but because this event had obstacles throughout the race, we thought that we could probably handle it, it did make the race more fun. 

After the fact, when I was getting ready to hose down my muddy old running shoes I began to think back on the experience and I realized how many parallels there are between the race and the past 33 years of our marriage.

I started the day a little apprehensive, just as I did the day we got married.  I didn't know what was ahead of me in the race, as I didn't know what I would face in marriage with Scott, but I knew I was in love with him and wanted to do this thing called life together. 

We started the race out a bit more independently, kind of doing our own thing and not matching strides at all, until we hit the first obstacle, just like our early married years. When we started to hit those obstacles, things got real.  We had to go over ladder like pyramids, and at first we were tackling them alone and feeling pretty confident in doing so. As in life, the early years we were still very independent and relied on our own opinions and experiences instead of working as a team.

Following the pyramids we began to experience more difficult challenges that involved concentration, balance, and often times crawling through mud and gunk.  I found that I was relying on Scott's care and encouragement more and more.  When I was a bit scared, he would go ahead of me and then hold my hand to help me along.  He has done this all throughout our marriage, and  that is just one of the reasons that I love him so much. 

I found myself getting really shaky and tired as the race progressed, there were some climbing obstructions that I knew I had to go around, because I might injure myself otherwise, but I didn't abandon Scott, I cheered him on as he tackled them so that he wasn't alone. That's like life as well, sometimes we have to know our limits but just because one of us can't do something doesn't mean we face the event alone, we still support each other along the journey.

Finally, we had to cross the deeper water and the current was fairly brisk, our shoes were being sucked into the muddy creek bed and it was really hard to walk through the water, so we held on tight to each other and took turns supporting each other allowing each other to walk alone when possible but holding on when the going got too rough.  We have had times in our 33 years that we had to hold on tight and be a constant support to make it through the hidden sink  holes but as long as persevered together we made it through the adversity and sad times.

Our final obstacle was racing up a small dirt mound then sliding into the mud in the bottom, hand in hand with a smile on our faces, before we pulled ourselves out of the hole to finally jog across the finish line.

The race was enjoyable because I had Scott by my side, I was never alone.

He encouraged me to keep going, try my best, and cross the finish line.  I feel like our marriage and family life has had the same rhythm. All the conflict or struggles in life have been faced together and because of this, have been more manageable.  I'm glad we did something outside of our comfort zone... together.  Not only did I enjoy spending the beautiful fall Saturday morning with him, but I also appreciate the fact that it made me look at our life together in a different way, and feel blessed.

Thanks to the Hutchinson Recreation Commission for sharing some of the pictures on https://www.facebook.com/hutchinsonrecreationcommission/

And God Sneezed....Gifts and Challenges.

A dear friend told me a story the other day about one of her acquaintances that just happens to be talented in everything that she does.  She is beautiful, athletic, kind, extremely intelligent, an amazing artist, and musician, the kind of person that it is easy to be jealous of in life. My friend said, "I really want to hate how perfect she is but I can't because she is just so darn nice!"  She went on to tell me her explanation for people like that....she said, God sneezed.

 In her theory, God sits with his hands full of  all the various talents (and challenges) that people can have.  He carefully sprinkles various gifts on each person as they are being formed, but sometimes he sneezes...ACHOO!... and blows all the talent onto one person.  "So sorry," He says, "they got it all, you must make do with this little bit leftover."

 I really enjoy her thoughts about this, it makes me smile to think of God handing out blessings and talents.  We are all given gifts that are unique to our personality yet we also know people who seem to have the lion share of abilities.  How can they have so much and we have little. Was it an accident or purposeful?

I think that no matter the amount we are given, it is important to cherish and use the talents and abilities to His glory. Everything God does and makes is perfect.  I feel the same way about the challenges that each of us have.  Each of us is given unique challenges to overcome.  Yet we can use these problems as opportunities to share love and acceptance with others.

In my case, God sneezed a boat load of anxiety on me when I was being created.  A little bit of anxiety is great, it helps one be prepared for the unknown.  The old flight or fight response, however  in overdrive it is a bit difficult.  Yet, in my case, I like to believe it has created grit.  As a child I feared everything.  Learning to deal with it has taught me empathy for other's challenges.  I try to use this with my family, church and the students I work with each year.

I have always been open with my family, my children, and often my students about the challenges I have been blessed with in my life. They make me who I am.  Letting people see our strengths and vulnerabilities makes both parties stronger on the journey together through life.

So, think today about this question, what did God sneeze on you?  Celebrate your uniqueness and share it!!!