The Climb

My work these days finds me sitting behind a desk and computer on most days, so I am constantly looking for opportunities to get some exercise. With Julie's help I found a used treadmill at a second-hand shop that has proven to be just what the doctor ordered for a good sweat. The one I have is not powered but driven purely by my power. When I use to work out at the YMCA the treadmills were power-driven with a myriad of settings for steepness of the incline and speed.

I've come to realize that no matter how hard I work, the treadmill always defeats me. I just don't have enough strength and energy to continue the climb without running out of steam. So many days I have felt the same way about my life. I've worked hard for decades but the incline always seems too steep for me to overcome. In my weakness I take a short rest and then try all over again. It's hard work trying to pursue "the climb" in life to be somebody and achieve success. The recent top billboard song by Miley Cyrus, "The Climb", while extremely inspirational, preaches success on individual perseverance and effort. The bottom line is that "the climb" will always be too steep to tackle alone. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

Recently I was reading the story of Gideon in the Bible and was reminded once again that God insists on different values than the ones that surround us in our culture. Our society preaches living out of our strength and pursuing "the climb" to the top. God reminds us over and over on the necessity of our weakness so that we will trust Him. The truth is that I am weak and my human resources will never be enough. I need God. Just like God used that "mighty warrior" Gideon just as he was - weaknesses and all, he encourages us in our weaknesses and uses us to touch other lives. That's what I like about God - I don't have to be a "mighty warrior" when instead I feel more like Don Knotts! His plans for me include me to be just plain old Jeff in all my weaknesses. When I become comfortable and descend into my true self, and lay aside the veneer of trying to be comebody else, God's strength carries us on the ups and downs of our life journey.

I just need to be radically different than my culture - to be comfortable being weak and being Jeff in my own skin.

But he (God) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

His climb begins with my descent.