Digging Deep

A couple of days ago, the kids and I chased Brad around a 100 mile mountain bike race.  He has prepared for this for many, many months.  Riding through cold, snow, ice, blazing sun, wind and rain. In the woods, on the roads, lost in countryside and speeding through town.  He has beaten his body to come to the start line feeling ready.  And ready he was.

Riding hard with focus and clarity for the path ahead, he never stopped smiling and encouraging those around him.  The way he races shows his true love for the sport.  Always humbly giving his all and bringing the best out of everyone around him.  Brad truly lives out his race for Christ both on and off his bike.  This is a test of motion.  A willingness to ride through pain and position.  A desire to seek hardship and allow suffering. Brad digs deep in riding and in life. Physical suffering for stamina is very gritty.  I am thankful that God keeps Brad (and I) suffering for dependance on Him for the next pedal push or the next step.  It makes digging in the depth of soul very real for the source of  our strength. And most often, a victory results.  May it always be for Christ alone.

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  Romans 5:3-5