I rode today. In fact, I rode 20 miles.
I know…you are saying, “Big deal.”
Well…it kinda was. I think today (Monday) was one of the hottest days of the summer. Temps in the 90s with humidity close to 100%. I ride with insulated bottles- one of water and one of Gatorade (G2). Needless to say they were both drained by the time I finished. I don’t know how many of you are athletes-cyclists, runners, team players, marathoners-but one of the essentials is hydrating. An athlete who doesn’t hydrate is asking for trouble. I can remember a Tour de France several years ago when Lance Armstrong got dehydrated during a Time Trial. He lost power. His lips and mouth had a white chalky substance around them (salt). He was in bad shape. I’ve seen guys working on roofs who fail to get out of the heat and get plenty to drink end up with heat stroke.
Once or twice I have bonked and it is a miserable state to be in. It is hard to focus on task. It takes everything within you to (in my case) keep pedaling. It takes recovery time, and depending on the severity, possibly several days. Unless…nah never mind.
I can’t help but think of this principle spiritually. As I was riding today a verse of Scripture came to mind: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2
A more dire strait (no not the musical group) is seen in Jeremiah 2:12-13: “Be appalled, O heavens, at this: be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
I’m going to be honest: I’ve sort of gone through a mild dry season- not a famine- just a dry season. I’ve allowed my spirit to get a bit dry. Not parched, but edging that way. Reckon it is time to head back to the old watering hole.
Where are you at these days? How is your spirit?
So, what will be your approach? Perhaps that might be the topic of a post chock full o’ good and practical advice.
I’m thinking at this point: I haven’t a fat clue. Seriously, you have given me an idea for a future post. Thanks Daniel.
In that follow-up post, perhaps some thoughts on how you got into the dry spell. You know, a looking back to learn kind of thing. A “How do I prevent this?” kind of approach. Just some thoughts to add to the mix.
That is a good item to add Kari. I will have to work on this one soon. Thanks.
Dry. Needing a day off. Friday is the day.
Good.
I know for sure God brought together circumstances for me to teach a bible study. Teachings calls me to study. But even with studying as you well know one can get dry. Just this past week I determined with God’s help to use my sleepless night to connect with the Lord just for my own personal need, a drink of His thirst quenching water. My struggle with insomnia will probably last my lifetime here because the drugs that put one to sleep also numb the mind. Again I chose to not take those sleep aids on a regular basis, only when we travel and I have to sleep in someone else house. So I guess I would say, I am coming out of a dry spell. Other then trusting Him to bring me out of it I have no other advice. He has never failed my trust in Him by the way and sometimes the methods He has used are quite funny but profound. One thing I know for sure is He always seeks me more then I seek Him and He always knows where I am. Looking forward brother to what God teaches you during your dry spell. And thanks for being honest enough that you, a pastor, who writes great blog post get dry. Makes you a little more real.
Here I was going to have you write my post for Daniel’s answer. But you now tell me you have no advice. 🙂 I am hoping to learn and share Betty. Thanks. And yep, contrary to popular opinion, I do have skin and I do bleed. 😉
Answering that question fully would take more than is appropriate for a comment stream, I think. Lots going on with me spiritually. Lots of good stuff along with struggle. Yet, hydration means we are working & sweating out the impurities and becoming stronger, so the need to hydrate is a good thing. My cousin died of heat stroke several years ago, and I constantly push hydrating to my kinds. Maybe I need to be more adamant about pushing spiritual hydration…
Your take on hydration is spot on…both spiritually and physically. i certainly wonder if I am as adamant as I should be about myself (and the people from the church).
Sounds like a big deal to me, Bill! I’ve been walking for 2 miles most days this summer, and for me that’s a victory after too many years of making lame excuses.
This is a victory, His victory!
Blessings …
Way to go Linda! Start small and go bigger as you build up to it. If 2 miles is all, then that is great! It is a victory…His. Thanks for coming by. (I commented on your site btw).
Whenever I feel a dry season like that coming on I know I need a change of scenery. A new book, a new running route, a new devotional…usually when I change things up slightly something fresh comes out of it.
I think that is one of the routes I am heading.
I think we all face these dry spells, Bill. I know I have. Something that has really helped me draw water from the Well is a prayer site at http://www.sacredspace.ie
It guides the reader through the prayer process–not praying for you, more like prompts to make you think, plus there is a passage of scripture to meditate on each day.
Thanks for the recommendation Pam. I’ll have to check that out.
Sometimes I find that the more I discipline myself to drink, the more I thirst – and am filled.
Key=discipline