Synergized!

I wrote on my facebook the adjectives: Energized, Encouraged, Excited yet tired!  A friend responded Synergized.  Synergy is combined action.  The cooperative action of two or more muscles, nerves or the like.  The cooperative action of two stimuli.  Synergy.  I have just returned from my second Synergy conference and the above comments reflect my feelings.  Tom and I were running together this morning.  Both of us are training for a half marathon.  We are doing this together.  Our strides adjust to each other’s pace, we hear the breathing and sometimes gasping of each other in our own cadence.  We run alongside each other and we truly like it.  I commented to my partner for life of how much I love running with him.  He also expressed the same thoughts.  I then ventured further and asked him what he liked about our marathon training in tandem.  He expressed the sharing of a goal, the companionship along the way and just the joy of running together.  Then he returned the question and asked me if it was the same for me.  I said yes, but also the joy that I can run with him unencumbered.  No one is telling me I can’t run the trail, or that I can only run so far on it, or that I can’t run at all.  I get to share in the joy of accomplishing our physical abilities; together.  There are times I am stronger and encourage my husband to keep going and he returns the challenge to me when I am weak.  There are times we are tired and don’t want to pursue this, but yet the other one will again encourage the putting on of our shoes.  We are stronger together.  We also share the joy together of running the race.  Synergy is about running the race together.  Men and women each given the freedom to run; together.  Men and Women building and encouraging each other to share in the glory put before us fully embracing each other’s ability to run.  I have been Synergized.  I like my friend Lois’ coinage.  For Synergized is energized cooperative running for the glory of God.  If you’d like more information about Synergy the website is:  http://www.synergytoday.org/.  Happy Running!

This year I have determined to fulfill a lifelong goal.  I am not in complete control of its outcome, yet I am focusing on running a half marathon.  This is requiring discipline and perseverance.  This is requiring patience as my body sometimes retaliates to moving in ways it’s long forgotten and yet I am pushing forth.  I am stretching (lots), changing eating habits and adjusting my running style.  Like many of you, I am also watching the Olympics.  I am amazed and in awe of the near perfection seen in the different athletic events and humbled by their sacrifices.  In pursuit of Gold, these individuals have put themselves under rigorous training.  Countless hours are spent in strength building, technique training and microscopic examination of their exertions.  Many have numerous broken bones, slashes due to razor blade skates that cause me to become nauseous and astronomical financial commitments which are all sacrifices to achieve the One Prize.  These athletes put me to shame.

Far greater than the finite Olympic Gold is an eternal crown for those in Christ.  As a follower of Christ, I have been called to another race.  The race I enter is one that demands all I have.  Like the Olympians it requires a focus and discipline, it calls for every fiber of my being and surrender of self.  It is a much greater glory, a much greater prize and it is infinite in its payback.  It calls me to get up early and commit my day to run with all endurance.  It requires mindful conversations with the True, Great Coach who encourages me to run it well.  It requires listening and adjusting as seeming obstacles are truly there to grow strength in areas of weakness.  It requires a daily commitment.  The athletes don’t quit, they don’t allow mistakes to cause them to stop pursuing, they learn from them and become better.  For every perfect mogul run, there were numerous falls, crashes and slides.  For every perfect triple, there were countless, doubles, singles and meetings with the ice.  They didn’t stop, they learned, pursued and grew to be the amazing athletes we witness these couple of weeks.

The apostle Paul states the reality of the race before us in Christ entails strict training.  We don’t give up, we don’t whine, we learn, grow and pursue.  We run for the prize, glory awaits us.  The privilege of being recruited to the one true race is humbling in itself.  You who have responded to God’s call have been chosen to be an Olympian for Christ.  How dear Christian are you running?

1 Corinthians 9:241 Corinthians 9:24
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.  

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Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.