Sunday, October 19, 2008

Let us run with perseverance

I was reminded this morning what perseverance is, while running a 10K race with aches and a cold. It is easy to quit, and that is often our natural human inclination to adversity. Right now, I truly enjoy life in the shed, but there have been a couple of times when I was tempted to quit and just move into an apartment. One morning I woke up itching and found some little jumping black bugs on me ...I had fleas!!!


boric acid soaked army cot



any detergent with boric acid will dehydrate flea eggs - the most important part in getting rid of them :)

I boric acidized my humble abode, and my friend/neighbor/landlord/toxicologist sprayed the surrounding area, and I decided to stick with it and stay in the shed. The decision has come to mean something more to me though.

There is consequence for every decision we make. If we consistently allow ourselves to easily back out of goals we set for ourselves just because they become hard, we will become weak. (caveat: obviously there are situations where quitting is the right choice; ie you break a leg during a race!) If however, we develop the habit of consistently continuing to move forward even when it's hard, it produces in us an attitude/approach of perseverance - which will serve us well in our career, in marriage, ...in life.

Perseverance, fortitude, courage... treasures I feel I have not had in my past, but that I now seek adamantly... these are why, within reason, I am now committing to be consistent and devoted to achieving my goals. Even if there were no other benefit, going through hardships to achieve even just a personal goal allows me to look back and think "wow, I just accomplished something difficult", and it becomes a source of encouragement and confidence for the future. And I believe this glorifies God. Lord, may your work produce in me commitment... fortitude... perseverance, and may these bring you glory.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2a

(shoutout to my fellow 10K runners!!!)
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3 comments:

Abby said...

Jeremy,
I need to bring to your attention that the term "savage" should not be used. Anthropologists (well, one anthropologist) recommend: "harsh living conditions", "a rude structure", "elemental domestic establishment", "non-standard, unconventional household".

Abby

October 20, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Wilderness Jeremy said...

I just looked that word up and, wow, it means something very different from what we've always meant! My brothers & I use it all the time to describe eachother, poking fun at or even complimenting eachother's toughness, resourcefulness with primitive implements, and lack of uppity manners. It's even one of my little brother's nicknames! Hmmm, now that I know the correct meaning of the word, I'll have to hunt for a more accurate replacement... best I can come up with right now that does the concept justice is "mountain man". That'll do!

October 20, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Mom said...

I think the last line in the definition of savage fits your living situation very well. For that, I think you can still be called Savage!!

And "eating standing up" is still savage to me!! And eating a big chunk of meat without cutting it up is Savage!! And some of the other non-standard things you boys have done in our household qualifies you to be savages, at least in my book.

Love you lots, Jerm! Mom XOXOX

October 30, 2008 at 3:01 AM

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