I make it onsite a little after 9am and immediately get to the run. Of course it's windy and cold by normal standards, but to those of us who run year round, it's actually a good day for a run. Hands are already cold but they'll warm up. As I turn to head up what I think is still called Lookout Mountain, I reflect back to chapter 1 of "It's Your Time" where Joel Olsteen shares the story of walking up the mountain. Well as soon as you come off the main trail you're greeted with the bottom of the hill. So you take a left and begin to climb this treacherous hill laced with tree stumps and protruding rocks. Plus it's muddy from the rain and there are puddles of water hidden beneath the wet leaves. It's definately a technical trail that will hurt you both mentally and physically if you're not careful. The hill continues it's winding path for about 1/4 to 1/2 mile before it levels off and loops you down the backside which takes you back to the main trail. The backside is just as treacherous because of the narrow path, the drop, rocks, and mud. So you end up running down the hill, dodging rocks, trying not to slip and fall into the mud patches, all while maintaining your balance and focus. Sounds scary huh? Wanna run it with me one day?

In the chapter he speaks on how hard it was to stay motivated to make it up the mountain and how he almost gave up at it's half way point. So as I'm running up the hill I think back to how long I've been running this trail and how I ALWAYS struggle running up this hill. It doesn't seem to matter if I'm in good or bad running shape I ALWAYS encounter a mental breakdown when running up this hill. Physically I'm fine, legs are starting to burn a little and I'm breathing a little harder, but that's all apart of it. For the most part I've always passed it off as me just "taking it easy" and not wanting to burn out before finishing the remaining 6 miles. In the chapter Joel makes the following statement:

"God has put dreams and desires in your heart."

What this particular statement he makes a reference to being a prisioner of Hope and breaking the chains and believing that He, God, is working in your life. Sweet!

So what I realized today was that I really don't struggle with this hill as much as I think I do; and that's because I never stop. There are definately times where I want to stop, and may slow down my pace, but I never stop. Today for some reason the voice in my head telling me to "push it out" and "don't quit", was louder than before. My lungs were burning from the cold air, my hands are starting to feel numb, and my shoes are already caked with the mud adding what seems like an extra 5 pounds to each of my feet yet I continue on to the top and down the backside before I'm back on the main trail some five (5) minutes later.

Now some would say "this dude's crazy" and ask "what are you doing running in this cold weather?" and "why that particular trail?". I chock it up to the challenge I needed to help charge my spirit for today. The other trail I run, Sweet Water Creek, isn't as technical as Sope Creek, so when I run here I know I'll be in for a longer more challenging run. The fact that this trail entered my subconscious shows that I needed this type of challenge to get me going. So I embraced it and kept it moving.
Now the voice I refer to was fueled by His desire to see me finish the request He put on my heart which was so simple of a request one would think why would He ask that of me? I can only hope that He knows what's troubling my heart and is positioning me to get through these trials in the best possible way. He leaves it up to me to stay firm in my faith and confident in my abiity to complete the task. He knows that I find comfort in running and therefore continues to Bless me and keep me upright and able to run, freely without restraint or restriction.

Also in the chapter he references Hebrews 10:35:

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

So my lesson for today was about staying in my faith and believing, hoping, and doing the right thing. I know my payday is coming and that when I get this way it's easily due to my impatience which causes me to falter, doubt, and question. As he mentions in chapter 1 still:

Instead of getting discouraged, you need to have the attitude to say, "I've come too far to stop now. I've been through too much to back down. I realize the pressure has been turned up because I'm about to give birth to my dreams!" Classic! I love it, for this is logic I eat, drink, and sleep. But because I'm flawed I sometimes forget and lose sight. This is where these simple words help in ailing a doubtful spirit. The last reference I'll make from chapter 1 states the following:

"Know that God has all kinds of ways to bring your dreams to pass."

Even though I already believe this in my heart I find that I still need it stated in a way for my spirit to interpret and Joel does this well. Again, all it takes are a few words to inspire and be inspired. So I'll remain a "Prisioner of Hope" and continue to abide by the lessons presented that are meant to mold and shape me into the creature I'm destined to be. I pray you do the same.

WOOOOW! Chapter 1 was awesome! Can't wait to get started on chapter 2.

back to the book!

So I open the book to chapter one (1) and there staring at me are words to sooth my troubled heart, You're Closer Than You Think! I love it, so I jump right into his initial story about a climb up Beaver Creek Mountain located in Denver Colorado. He's basically describing the challenge he's facing to make it up this steep mountain. There are moments of doubts that creep into his spirit that makes him want to abandon his effort. Although he continues on he finds it harder with each step to stay motivated to continue the climb. His mindset changes once he encounters a gentleman walking down the mountain who says to him, "You're closer than you think". These few words, he states rejuvenatated his spirit and propelled him to continue the climb. Turns out he was only ten (10) minutes from reaching the top of the mountain and had he turned around he'd never have known that. A true lesson of how it only takes a few words to inspire one's spirit.

So as I'm reading through the rest of the chapter I marvel at how easy it is for me to relate to his stories and how they translate into some of my own struggles. It was the same in his first book I read, "Become a Better You". I think he, Joel Olsteen, has a true gift when it comes to delivering the word of prosperity. His style and demeanor speaks to the spirit and offers a sense of comfort and support needed when there's no one in the physical to provide it. So I applaud him for that and encourage anyone reading this post to get his book. It could truly be your time.

There's another story in this chapter of a wife who renews her passion to start a business after praying about her situation where she was working two jobs to support her family after her husband was laid off. In the book she states that after praying "His response came to her "like a breath". "I gave you a gift. Go plant gardens. Do your hearts work." So she started her business and became successful in it. I can dig this as it shows that she never let go of the desire she had to become a successful business owner. In her mind she remained convinced that she could be successful in her line of work. It was at her lowest point that she finally found the time to speak on it and have it confirmed. The one thing I truly believe about Faith is that if something is placed on your heart and you nurture it, you will receive its reward. You just have to stay committed to nurturing that dream and staying true to it at all cost. Joel makes a similar reference in this chapter by stating "Rewards await if you stay steadfast in your faith."

So after reading a while it begins to dawn on me why I'm suddenly so motivated to start reading this book. It seems that my spirit has become weakened and needs "speaking to". Weak in that I've lost sight of some of my main goals in life which are all centered on becoming a new creature as defined in 2nd Corinthians 5:17:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I have to let go of a lot "old things" that have been stock piling these few years and are starting to weaken my spirit. I figure somewhere along the lines I got so used to people blowing me off and taking advantage of my kindness that I started to accept it as normal. Things I had a hand in starting would change without me knowing about it and those I considered close would be anything but. I guess I convinced myself that I was doing what was put on my heart, which hopefully was for the greater good.

Turning 40 and being in my current position makes me realize that I have so much to do before leaving this life and that I really don't have time to sit and wonder how others perceive me or my efforts. In this chapter he mentions Psalms 30:5 "weeping may endure for a night, but I know joy is coming in the morning". The timing of me reading this is so amazing that I'm compelled to write on it. It's as if I'm being instructed to write a report on this chapter and share it with someone, who happens to be a virtual audience. My goal as I prepare for my New Year this February will be to utilize this book as one of tools for purging my spirit of these ailments. I vow to share in my reflections and interpretations of each chapter in hopes of nursing and rejuvenating my mind and body to prepare for the next leg of my journey. So stay tuned.