I don’t suspect many of you are into cycling like I am so I won’t bore you with material. However, I found something said by Levi Leipheimer that I found really thought-provoking. Levi is a member of Team RadioShack (Lance Armstrong’s team) and they are currently riding in the Paris-Nice Race. If you are interested you can find out what that is here. In one of the mailings I received I found this quote by Levi:
“Like any professional, we have days that we’re just going through the motions and that’s kind of where I am right now. I am not riding that great and this is obviously miserable weather. It’s good training, that’s what I keep telling myself.”
– Levi Leipheimer on the cold conditions at Paris-Nice (VeloNews 39.7)
Did you catch those words: “we have those days that we’re just going through the motions and that’s kind of where I am right now”? I thought, “Hmmmm cyclists go through that same “hole” I find myself in from time to time.” I won’t deny that my ministry and yes, even my Christian walk is dotted with times when I am just going through the motions.
Ever felt that way? What brought it on? How did you cope and get out of it? Not only would I like to hear but I think there is an online community here who would also like to hear your story. Please feel free to share.
And perhaps you have heard the following song. And perhaps you find yourself right now going through the motions. Listen. Then unload your heart to God. He is just waiting for you to admit your frailty and refuel.
you’ve got at least one reader who is into cycling here, bill. one who, by the way, has also spent some time going through the motions. though i don’t think i have much advice on it for others. i was scared out of it. my life was in shambles and i was ruining it completely. not to mention stealing God’s glory every day.
Spiritually, I am often content to go through the motions. I become lazy in my walk with God and plod along as if my weariness is normal. Then one of two things happens. 1) There is some epiphany that awakens my soul and God sweeps over me like a breath of fresh air 2) Something crushes me and drives me to my knees where I realize how utterly lost I would be without God. I guess we are always in training. Even when we are weary and disheartened, our spirit is getting a workout.
James: I know you love to cycle. But more glad that you became aware you were going through the motions. Powerful thought: stealing God’s glory every day. That is ultimately what happens. Thanks for honesty and good thought.
JAC: Your laziness is not uncommon for many of us. I sometimes tell myself that I doing all the right things (reading my Bible, praying, etc) when in reality it is “just another day at the office.” As for the 2 wake up calls: I prefer #1 but often find #2 the one God uses most frequently. Always in training my friend…always. Thanks for coming by.
hi Cycleguy,
i think for me I was going through the motions without realizing it. I think going through the motions of prayer and Bible reading helped. I’m not in formal ministry but I have done some things like Sundayschool teaching, mentoring a small group of young women coming to Canada from Africa. For me when something gets overwhelming I step out of it for awhile. Not everyone can do this if they have greater responsibilities. I love worship time with other believers. I have gotten many things from God while I’m worshiping. I go forward in a service for prayer by the elders. I got back back into reading my Bible through someone who prayed for me at the altar. I think we need rest periods. I’ve heard the words ‘delegate, delegate, delegate’. Ask lots of people to do many little or bigger things. I mean asking people to do things that are significant. Don’t let yourself get too busy. I was married to a recluse so getting too busy was not our problem. Socializing was.
Definitely have dealt with that and have to keep things in order so that it does not happen.
Everytime that it has happened, it is my own doing. I am a goal orientated person and if I am not careful I can live life as a checklist. Typically, when this happens I just cruise a long.
To cope with it, I deal with it with prayer. I get away from everyone and everything and just pray. I disconnect, so to speak, from the world and put my focus back on Him.
Sorry to ramble,
Just loved this post. This is a very real problem.
Linda: You are not alone. I think most go through the motions w/o realizing it until they find themselves dry as dust. Sometimes busyness does it and so stepping back and resting is required. Good thoughts. thanks for coming by. Check out the other post for some addresses.
Michael: no apology necessary whatsoever. I welcome your input. Glad to see you unplug. Very goal-oriented people need to get away and slow down some. 🙂 Thanks for coming by.
Going through the motions…been there too.
When I am tired…busy…depressed…troubled. You name it. I can easily find myself there.
I have often wondered if that is why Jesus gave us the example of retreating into seclusion with a close group of encouragers in order to recharge the batteries. I don’t think He ever just went through the motions, but maybe He was trying to teach us something by example.
We all need rest. We all need renewal.
I’m brain dead atm (working through Medicare files…love government red tape) so if this comment does not make any sense. Sorry.
Like the song btw.
Dusty: good thought about the retreating into seclusion. Makes sense so you must not be too brain-dead. 🙂 Glad you like the song. The story behind it is powerful.
Folks: Dusty’s blog is another you really need to check out.
Thank you Bill! I appreciate the encouragement and the shout out.
Welcome Dusty
For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the Lord, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:6-8
“The verse [verse 6] contains two pictures: one of a strained, narrow-eyed, embittered woman, and the other of a laughing bride with dancing eyes. This last term connotes all the happiness of the first days of marriage and expresses the way in which most men think of their wives in moments of tenderness — ‘the woman I married.’ But the laughing eyes have been turned into bitter eyes by broken dreams and scattered hopes. The bride has been rejected, and the fault of it is her own. Nothing is left but a life of going through the motions. But, wonder of wonders, her Husband, who is her Maker, calls her back to all that might have been and yet will be again.”
John N. Oswalt, Isaiah 40-66, pages 420-421.
Thanks for the Scripture reference Ike. It is good to know we have a faithful Husband.
ever felt this way?
i don’t think there is a person in this world who can truthfully say that he / she has never done this. been there, done that…
what brought it on?
most of the time i get into that kind of mood when i am tired of trying to make sense of what is going on, the times when i seriously wish i could honestly say “i don’t care” and not care… and i can’t. not because others expect me to care, but because without caring, who am i then?
how did you cope with it?
writing. writing, reading, just trying not to give up completely and stop even going through the motions. after some time, the motions once again transform into passion.
Used to be REALLY into cycling. Actually used to ride a lot, but it was the dirtier type…
Lance rocks. Cycling for cancer is his religion.
If we Christians can just realize our Christianity in the way that Lance realizes his cycling, it would go a long ways with what we are for God.
Levi is awesome too. Love Tour de France season. Glad to be rid of Contador. The lack of respect last year ticked me off badly.
Zee: thanks for the honesty and answers. I agree that probably all of us have been there. Have a great weekend!
Bernard: didn’t know you biked! Mine was never the dirty kind though unless you count road rash. 🙂 I am right there with you about Lance’s religion being cycling. I was so hoping and praying that the cancer would wake him up but… All I can do is continue praying. As for Contador: adios! His prima donna attitude and arrogance were tiring. I look forward to the TdF also. I see Levi ready for the Tour of California next month. Always good to hear from you.
Karma did the White Lake sprint Triathlon one year. She’s a lot braver than me.
Used to ride a lot. Tsali, Dupont, Pisgah Forest. I’m by no means a hard core athlete; the heart condition limited me a lot, but I was actually in much better shape then than I am now. The heart surgery probably saved my life and gave me more good years, but the fact that it came so late means that I’ll never be as good at 45 as I could have been if I had gotten it fixed earlier before the heart and pulmonary artery got so enlarged.
Road biking would be a lot more fun to me if we didn’t live in redneck land where there are uncontained pit bulls, German shepherds, and rednecks with beer bottles in jacked up trucks. Tons of cyclists here, but it’s not a really safe environment, and I never really felt relaxed doing it.
Not that any of that is about your post, ‘cept that it’s about cycling 🙂
Bernard: WOW! You guys were pretty active. I admire your mountain biking especially with the heart condition. Glad that is cleared up now. Certainly can understand your fear of riding on the road with those conditions. I would definitely think twice riding solo. Just glad to hear from you.
Hi Ike,
that’s a wonderful thought that God can call us back even after we have been cast off and deserted by Him. Perhaps this is a soverign work of God. Perhaps this calling back will require repentance on our part.
I think we need to cultivate a healthy respect and a healthy fear of God in our lives. He holds the power of the second death not us.