Recover on the Uphills

In a weeks’ time I had two interesting quotes enter my ears and spin around in my mind.  Now the first one was really interesting because it wasn’t some wise old man spewing deep thoughts in my direction; it was actually a statement that came from my mouth that surprised me after I blurted it out. 

I was riding bicycles with a group of guys and found myself ahead of the pack at the bottom of a steep hill.  I eased up on my effort so that they would catch me at the top of the hill.  Once we all regrouped I mentioned that I was “recovering on the uphill” which is a statement that really doesn’t add up from a physiological sense.  I mean, I was working against gravity and had to put effort in just to get up the stupid hill.  How could I call that “recovery”?  But if there’s a statement that challenges me to live life differently it’s that one!

Today Jan went for a bike ride with a friend and once they returned, we were chatting a bit.  Now it’s the weekend and there’s a lot of stuff going on at the Beck household.  There were chores but we were only halfway through the day and I had a long bike ride in and the boys and I were gearing up for a run.  And then some fishing.  And then who knows what else but I’m pretty sure it didn’t involve sitting! 

The second quote came along and went like this; “You guys live like you’re on vacation.”   That’s interesting…it was a complement to the flow and peace of our household but an interesting comment!  We are just living out of our house and doing stuff together while we have the ability.

Now these two comments have been rolling around in my head because they offer encouragement but in ways that are challenging in our world.  Do you ever feel like the way you are to live is at odds with the way things are typically taught to us in this world?  Recover on an uphill?  Not possible!  Live like you’re on vacation?!  No way, you have to approach life in the grind and let your worries and emotions steer the ship!

I have done many a race where there’s a giant hill or mountain.  I can tell you that it’s not easy.  There’s a lot that you have to do with training to prepare and then to do the climb at race pace is extra difficult.  There’s the physical effort, which is taxing to say the least.  And then there’s the mental toll because everything moves slower going uphill.  I’ve done races where you descend the same hill you go up and that really plays with your mind because you see others coasting and heading downhill with ease while I am slogging it out over here trying not to have my lungs explode.  Hills bring the pain, and the discomfort and can cause you to second guess going up them in the first place.  The idea of “recovering” while ascending is almost blasphemy. 

Living life like you’re on vacation sounds a bit odd as well.  I mean, in some ways I guess you could blow off responsibility and just go party all the time.  Vacations usually mean you do something different, something special, and hopefully gain some rest and reconnect with friends or family.  But much of life doesn’t equate to that.  There’s always something to worry about.  A debt you owe, a relationship that’s taxing, or a situation that’s unsettling.  Vacations are supposed to be fun and mask all of that, or at least allow you to not dwell on it for a few days.  Vacations are intended to be the antidote to the stresses of everyday life.  Can you imagine having a vacation mindset daily?

It’s radical to recover on the uphills and live your daily life like it’s vacation.  I’m not saying I can easily do it, but I think it’s worth pursuing, especially when God can re-cover you and your thoughts and grant rest and restoration daily.  Seems to me like it’s what He’s called us to do; rest in Him and allow ourselves to be remade, restored, and recharged for the things He designed for us!

“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.  Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil. 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ .  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”-  1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Following Jesus means allowing Him to recover us during an uphill slog.  Can we allow that?  Can we let our pride go?  Can we surrender even when the road looks like something we should try to pull ourselves up and over with our own strength?  Can we focus on Him without being bitter at those that seem to be doing much better on their mountains?  We know mountains and hills can be good to strengthen; can we allow God to reshape and renew us even during the task of going up and over them?  Don’t you think you’ll be different at the top than you were at the bottom if God works through you?

Perhaps even deeper than being “recovered” on the uphill is adopting that vacation mindset to the process. Being recovered sounds wonderful but the process can be crushing.  Painful.   It can take longer than you thought and go deeper than you want!  But living like we’re on vacation while the process takes root…that’s pretty awesome.  To rest in the process.  Not force it.  To go someplace physically or mentally where you are at peace with the process of entering into God’s will for your life and not grind or worry your way there.

Let’s recover on the uphills and vacation as we go.