Here's Pastor
Dave McDowell's weekly devotional that he sends out to members of his church.
Dave is my brother and serves as the Music Minister at Stewartstown UMC in PA.
I guess it depends what end of
the leash you are on.
I am a big believer in daily
exercise.
I try to get in 6 workouts a
week.
I like the
results.....
it gives me that endorphin
rush,
it helps me to
focus,
it often becomes a time for
prayer,
and it is good for my
health.
Some days are harder than
others
to get
started.
In the past,
I have used the services of a
personal trainer
to motivate me and to push
me
to reach goals that I might
not otherwise attempt.
That's why he caught my
eye.
I see him in the
morning
as I drive to
work......
He is an elderly
man.
He comes into my vision as he
crosses the street
on
his electric
scooter.
I call him
Scooterboy.
That wouldn't be that
unusual
except that Scooterboy also has
his dog on a leash.
To the casual
observer,
it looks like this tiny dog is
pulling the scooter
much like Rudolph pulls Santa's
sleigh.
The only problem is that Rudolph
has 8 other reindeer to help tow
the line.
Meanwhile, this little Rudolph is
on his own
and Santa wants to go at warp
speed.
Now this little pup is
tiny
and the scooter wheels are
large.
I am not the best at algebraic
equations,
but my best
estimations
are that this little pupster is
taking 7 frantic steps
to every one rotation of the
scooter wheels.
.
Essentially,
every morning this little
canine
wakes up to a tyrannical Pharaoh
trainer
who chases him with an electric
chariot.
It might be a great way for the
dog to get some exercise........
not so much for
Scooterboy.
I'd like to think Scooterboy is
taking on some fresh morning air himself,
except that while he is playing
jockey,
he is smoking a
cigarette.
So much for fresh
air.
Meanwhile the little pooch is
huffing it,
moving his little legs
frantically,
trying to avoid the writing of a
pet obituary
that describes how he was run over
by a scooter.
Up the hill they
go.
The little tyke is now on a 30%
incline
and the treadmill showed no signs
of slowing down.
They may be only going around the
block,
but in miniature dog
terms,
Fido is running a
marathon
and the finish line is no where in
sight.
Soon though,
Scooterboy and his dog disappear
out of my sight.
I say a prayer for the little
guy,
praying that his little legs hold
up for the journey.
I believe that trainers can be a
great help
in helping one achieve fitness
goals.
But it's hard to listen to a
trainer's instructions,
if the trainer himself is out of
shape,
or is found behind the
gym
trying to appease his nicotine
fit.
We listen to
trainers
when they practice what they
preach,
and we agree with the
sermon.
In a sense,
God is our personal
trainer,
just not with a
leash,
but with a shepherd's
crook.
He has goals for each one of us
that are beyond our own
comprehension.
Goals that will allow us
to
be more than we ever thought we
could be.
But they are goals that come from
experience.
He understands what it's like to be on both ends of the
leash.
He has seen the view both from
heaven and earth.
I know I need a
trainer.
And so do
you.
May we allow the most personal of
personal trainers
to take our lives and let them
become
all that they were intended to
be.
Let Him reveal where you need to
exercise.....
prayer, fasting,
study,
solitude, simplicity, submission,
service,
confession,
worship.
It may hurt, and it will cost
you,
discipline always
does.
But I promise you won't get run
over by a scooter.
I will instruct and teach you in the
way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon
you.
Psalm
32:8
.
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