No Turning Back
Poll Question – American Flyers? Possible answers:
A. Best Kevin Costner movie ever
B. Encourages ME to get my butt on a bike
C. Never heard of it
In American Flyers, Marcus (Kevin Costner), a world-class bicycle racer, encourages his estranged brother David to train with him for the upcoming “Hell of the West” multi-day bike race. On one of their many training rides, Marcus introduces David to “Eddy” – a relentless and terrifying bike-chasing dog! During their first encounter, David loses the sprint battle to Eddy and yells to Marcus…” Marcus, Eddy ate my shoe!” After pondering going back to retrieve the shoe, David comes to realize the foolhardiness of going back. Such wisdom! No going back…forever forward.
I admit to you, I continually must battle my tendency to GO BACK. To regret. If only… I wish I would’ve… More and more, I am saying to myself, “You Can’t Go Back” – a shortened version of CS Lewis quote, “You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
How about you? Are you looking in the rearview mirror? Considering going back and retrieving your “eaten shoe?” Regretting decisions you’ve made in the past – regrets that prevent you from thoroughly living in the present?
As I said previously, I continually need to push past the “magnetic pull” of my past and stay focused on the present – fully – mind, body, and spirit. To help me, I have made mind/body/spirit identity statements that are CORE to me, that I return to during times of weakness.
Mind – I am I lifelong learner.
Body – I am an athlete and a laborer. I need to be fit to participate.
Spirit – I am a Christian. I will boldly live my faith, evidenced by the fruits of the spirit.
To be honest – Mind and Body are “easy” for me. I know ‘Right from Wrong’ and I know when I cave into making a weenie wrong decision. I know, at my core, I have the willpower to overcome temptations – it’s more of a question of IF I truly want to…!
Spiritual commitments are DIFFICULT for me – why? Because they are counter to my human desires and tendencies. My spiritual wrestling usually come down to FAITH – to TRUST – to SURRENDER. CBN.com says, “Surrendering to God is showing complete faith in Him and belief in His promises. Just like a child, we can walk in freedom from worries. We simply must choose to trust God for everything. … we can trust Him for our daily needs and desires.” (Bolding is mine.) For me – easy to say I have faith, difficult to live like I do! In the Christian faith, Jesus EXPECTS…REQUIRES surrender. “Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ ”
As I daily recommit to daring to live my authentic life IN THE PRESENT, I am reminded of David and “the eaten shoe.” A sign hangs in the American Flyers training gym that says RES FIRMA MITESCERE NESCIT, which loosely translate to “Once you’ve got it up, Keep it up!”
My questions for you – Are you authentically and actively living in the present – fully – per your unique MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT identity?