The Treadmill

The Evaluation
For the past few weeks, I've been meeting with a teacher here at Gateway about my spiritual life. The first meeting consisted of me outlining my goals for the semester and talking about how I would accomplish these goals.

I feel like I have barely made any tangible progress. I literally feel like I'm on a treadmill and the scenery is the same as when I started. I have tried to love my brother, respect my friends, be humble and exercise self-control. I have forgiven and have been devoted. Yet, there is still a depth I feel I am missing, a certain strength I would love to experience.

The Parallel
Ironically enough, I found my answer just in reflecting on this experience. It has also been in my schedule to workout at the gym with a friend of mine at least four days a week. While it has been partially successful, the results are still small.

In my exercise routine, I've done quite a bit of running. One thing I do not like is running on a treadmill; if I could run outside all the time, I would. Running on a treadmill is restricting and tiring and, well . . .boring! Pain, boredom, and fatigue are three factors that stop most people from running; however, if you keep running in spite of these factors, one day you'll realize that it's not so hard anymore. You find you can run faster and longer than ever.

I think the same process is true spiritually. Many days, you find yourself stuck on a spiritual "treadmill" of sorts, making no observable progress. Then one day, almost magically, you look back and see a lot of growth.

Waiting for a "Second Wind"
There will be a time when your fatigue will pass, when you will be able to exceed your spiritual limitations and run with purpose and accomplishment. Some might choose to stay on the treadmill, to keep running at the same spiritual level. Here is a lesson that must be learned in any athletic activity: You have to push beyond your limitations to in order to expand your abilities. In other words, you have open the door and step into the room in order to get there. It's painful and perhaps risky, but in the end it's the only way to success.