I should preface this with this: exercise is extremely important to me, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The other day, I found myself pulled in several different directions. My husband looked at me and said, “Go out for a walk/run. You will feel better after that and a shower.”
So, I made use of the short thirty or so minute window I had and did some interval training in the cool, fresh air. That is when you walk and then run and repeat for set amounts of time. I said a rosary and had some extra time for reflection afterwards.
A Lifetime Ago
Somehow, my mind wandered back to what feels like nearly a different lifetime. Our oldest daughter was twelve. We had children every two years down. At the time, we had seven children who were 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and a newborn. The oldest was on a cross-country team, and I found myself chatting with the coach’s wife. An avid runner herself, I asked if she would be competing in the upcoming local 5K race. Our town puts it on every year, a very fun, short 3.1-mile race for families. She quickly replied no; it seemed like a waste to only run three miles if she were going for a run.
That conversation has stayed with me for over eleven years. Often, I only have time for three miles. I am always glad for it! And, I think, imagine how many cumulative miles I would have missed out on had I said it wasn’t worth it each time?
Prayer Life
The same can be said for our prayer life. Imagine how many conversations with God you would miss out on if you said you didn’t have thirty minutes to pray, so you were not going to pray at all? It may not be ideal, but it does not mean it is not worth doing. Something is better than nothing.
I have a friend, a Latin teacher, who says, “Nunc Coepi,” or, begin again. Translated exactly, it means, “Now I begin.” Americans traditionally set goals in the month of January. If one of your resolutions is already lacking or falling to the wayside, I encourage you to begin again tomorrow. And each day after that. It all adds up. It all counts. Three miles or thirty minutes is still worth it.
[Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34]
