I love to swim. Now that my training for the 2010 triathlon season has begun, I’ve had cause and motivation to brave those first few cold minutes in the pool in favor of swimming some laps. There’s something about being enclosed in the water, isolated even from the other swimmers for the most part, that is soothing to me. With the rhythm of my kick, my arms, and my breathing, my brain begins to get into rhythm, too. And I think about all sorts of things.
During my last swimming workout, I was thinking about penguins. Don’t ask me why these things happen – they just do. And I began to consider that I have a few things in common with them. Penguins on land are awkward and slow, waddling along with short stubby legs over a round belly. It’s comical really. That’s certainly how I feel when I’m running. I’m apparently not built in such a way that running comes naturally or gracefully to me. Neither a penguin nor I will ever break a land-speed record – we are far more likely to break our noses tripping over ourselves. (more…)
Thank goodness! I am finally home after The Grand East Coast Tour that we made for the holidays. We saw everyone in our immediate family this year – mom, dad, sisters, cousins. It’s always great to see family, but ten days away from my own bed makes me cranky. I am glad to be back!
I’m always a little anxious when I visit my family. Most of them do not believe in God the same way that I do. Note that I did not say that they don’t believe in God at all. But they are far more liberal in their understanding than I am. I believe in a personal relationship with Jesus my Savior, in the Holy Spirit who guides me day by day, and that He has a purpose and plan for my life. That personal relationship is missing where much of my family is concerned. At times, they have viewed me as a fundamentalist freak (terminology mine). At times they have been very vocal about their concerns about my “radical” faith. At times, we have argued and feelings on both sides have been hurt. And my mother has put her foot down on the issue – don’t talk about religion with her youngest daughter (me). (more…)
