Life ... this is war. We wish it weren't. We love vacations, margaritas, sunset beaches, and bonuses at work. We love the feeling of tranquility and peace. In fact we labor to great lengths at times to create a sense of peace, but the peace we inevitably create for ourselves is rendered ineffective (Jn 14:27, Mat 10:34). We have two options; to fight, or to ignore/surrender. Anyone who thinks otherwise, falls into the latter (Eph 2:1-2). For the former, the fighters, we fall into a different category. A category constituted with blood, victory, defeat, disappointment, joy ... but not ignorance. If you think this life is supposed to be easy, if you find yourself dismayed at the fact that you bear scars, if you find yourself disheartened at the struggle ... then remember we are at war. All our lives. It shall never stop. Ever. Oh, but how we long for it to stop. But it won't. Not on this side of life. No matter our efforts, it will not abate. No amount of comfort, money, power, pleasure, prestige, acclaim, or recognition shall ever stop the battle from raging on. The only thing that shall stop it, is death, or our surrender to the Foe that besieges the battle (Rev 12:12, 17). May our properly aligned expectations, enable us to fight valiantly ... and not be surprised when we find ourselves bloodied and entrenched in the middle of a battle field ... Hast thou no scar? Amy Carmichael Hast thou no scar? No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand? I hear thee sung as mighty in the land, I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star, Hast thou no scar? Hast thou no wound? Yet, I was wounded by the archers, spent. Leaned me against the tree to die, and rent By ravening beasts that compassed me, I swooned: Hast thou no wound? No wound? No scar? Yet as the Master shall the servant be, And pierced are the feet that follow Me; But thine are whole. Can he have followed far Who has no wound nor scar? #spirituality

As I am training again for a for an ultra-endurance race I am being reminded of a spiritual truth: to grow means to go through difficulty and pain. And growth comes most in the times where we are wanting to avoid the pain, and so short-curcuit our growth. It is not the training sessions where I feel awesome when I think the most growth and improvement is happening ... the ones when I feel fresh and unstoppable, seeming to have more energy, strength and stamina than usual. It is the sessions where I feel anything but unstoppable, where it seems I have far less energy and strength than usual, and I don't give up but instead to push through with what I have that day ... these are the times I feel are most rewarding emotionally, and over time, are what add to my overall growth physically and athletically. I believe the same happens spiritually. Those times where we are tempted more than normal or seem to be weaker against those temptations, or have a harder time believeing the words and promises of God and thus act and walk in faith. It is by us not giving up that we actually make progress. Typically I think it is when I am feeling closest to God or having the best quiet times with him or achieving some great spiritual feat that I am the strongest and most spiritually fit. But I am often wrong. It's the times when we don't give up, even when we feel tired. It's when we resist even though we feel like we are hanging on by a thread. It's when we choose to believe God instead of ourselves, even when we doubt. It is when we fall, and decide to get up again ... it is trudging through these painful times that we often experience our greatest motions of progress. #training