Well, as I type this, I am waiting for Sandy to arrive and unleash her fury. I've read the news blogs, checked the facebook pages, and watched the news. I've heard all data, and I'm prepared...I think.
The fact is, you can read all the info, and watch the news until you have all the facts memorized, but nothing can prepare you for what "might happen." They said this morning it would start...and there was nothing. They said tonight would be the worst..still nothing. However, the night is not over, so purely because my mother would scold me if I didn't, I got a few extra gallons of water, filled up the bathtub, checked my batteries and got out the flashlight. Still, I sit here wondering if this was all done in vain. If it was, oh well. If not, thank God!
Training is the same way. You can prepare for what "might happen" and pray it doesn't; or you can do nothing and be up the creek when it does. As runners and as athletes, we train so our bodies are ready for whatever challenges race day may throw at us. Spiritually, as Christians, we should do the same.
The Bible says in 1st Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." This verse is talking about defending what you believe in, but the heart of it is universal- BE PREPARED!
Proverbs puts it this way, "The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing" (Proverbs 20:4)
It is clear- those who are lazy when things get hard will have nothing when times get tough.
Training is the same way. You can prepare for what "might happen" and pray it doesn't; or you can do nothing and be up the creek when it does. As runners and as athletes, we train so our bodies are ready for whatever challenges race day may throw at us. Spiritually, as Christians, we should do the same.
The Bible says in 1st Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." This verse is talking about defending what you believe in, but the heart of it is universal- BE PREPARED!
Proverbs puts it this way, "The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing" (Proverbs 20:4)
It is clear- those who are lazy when things get hard will have nothing when times get tough.
Another passage in Proverbs 6:6-11 paints a similar picture:
"You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!"
(The Message)
If you haven't figured it out already- being unprepared will cost you. Whether it is preparing for Sandy, preparing your body for a race, preparing for the day, or most importantly preparing your heart before the Lord- you don't want to be out-smarted by an ant, do you?
I didn't think so. So get goin'!
And get prepared!