Season of Stretching

Dr. Oz caught my eye last week, with “10 Ways to Living Longer”.  Many of them were surprising, including Secret #1 - “Stretch for at least 5 minutes a day.”   Seriously?! We all know that you should stretch before and after exercising, but I was surprised this was on the list for living a longer life – just a few minutes a day! 

Now, think for a minute.  Are you stretching emotionally and spiritually?  I feel right now like I am going through a “Season of Stretching”.   At home, at work, in my social life, in my spiritual life, in my extra-curricular activities… in so many areas of my life, I feel I am out of my “comfort zone”.   Sometimes it’s painful to stretch, if you have a Charlie-horse, and you try to stretch out that muscle it hurts a LOT (ouch!), but you have to do it or it will never go away.  For example, I have found myself missing or far away from the strong social network of family and friends to which I am accustomed.  I miss them, so sometimes it’s uncomfortable to try to rebuild that.  Sometimes, it feels good to stretch, like you get up from sitting for a while at your computer, and as you get up and walk around, the achiness of your bones and muscles melt away.  For example, married life is AWESOME – but also NEW.  I’ve never had to share a checking account with anyone!  J  But my husband is great at finances, so it’s actually a total blessing and brings much needed guidance and financial peace.

While sometimes uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, stretching is a part of life.  Stretching before exercise prevents injury when you have to engage in increased activity, and increases your athletic performance.  Stretching increases your balance and flexibility. Stretching gives you increased muscle control and range of motion.  Stretching, while it can prepare you for exercise, is actually an exercise all in itself (ever tried yoga?!).  I’m starting to see the parallels.  Without these seasons of stretching, I am much more likely to get hurt when I enter a season where I have to sprint, and I won’t have a balanced, sound mind or be flexible when life’s curve balls come my way.  Without the stretching, I won’t have the muscle control and range of motion to handle with grace whatever God has in store for me next.   Without the stretching, I won’t be able to reach out, and take every chance that God wants me to.  And while I look to see what this season of stretching is leading towards, it’s actually a workout all in itself. 

Just as the physical body has so much potential, you also have amazing potential emotionally and spiritually!  Are there areas of your life where you are out of your comfort zone?  Are you stretching out an injury of the past?  Are you stretching to prepare for what life brings you next?  If stretching is Secret #1 to living a longer life, how can we apply that elsewhere?

"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12:12-13 ESV)

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible)

Earworm of the Day: "Here I Am" by Downhere 

New challenges... New perspectives...

So, I’ve never liked football.  I thought football was only good for two things: (1) Superbowl parties (what girl doesn’t love to throw a good party), and (2) Superbowl commercials (mini-Darth Vader was the best this year!).   Over the years, I’ve had guys try to tell me the rules, and the point of all the bone-crushing action, why they are SOOooo passionate about it all, and really… I was snacking in the kitchen with most of the other women talking about “UGGs…In or Out of Fashion?” by the end of the first quarter.    

Then HE came along… my husband of two months!  Two football seasons ago, after he had me hook, line, and sinker in love with him, Steve came up to me and said in the sweetest of all tones, “Babyy??...”, and then these came these words, “Soooo… the Cowboys season starts this Sunday.  Would you mind if we watched it?”  (He didn’t have a TV to himself at his ‘bachelor pad’, so most TV viewing was done in my living room.)  What’s a girl in love to do?  Sunday afternoon is prime time with your man, and I didn’t want give that up!  So, I said, “OK, baby,” figuring that he would watch football while I sat next to him on the couch shopping on eBay for my latest find.  At least then we would be spending the time together. 

He would get into it – not in an annoying “paint your face and beer belly and go on national TV” sort of way.  But like his brothers had just turned the tide of an epic battle to go down in the history, and he was celebrating with them.  It was quite charming, and eventually…contagious.  So, I would look up from my online bidding wars occasionally and ask a total girlie question, like, “Why are you happy when your guy just got knocked to the ground?”  (And he would explain what a 1^st Down meant.)  Over the past two years, I put down the computer a little more, and asked a few more questions.  Not only did it become fun to join the epic battles WITH my man, but I was learning to enjoy something I was SURE I hated not too long ago.   Now?  I’m actually sad to see the Superbowl go, knowing it will be several months before Sunday afternoons are full of football again at the Haley house. 

Sure, part of this is about love, but it’s really more a type of this season of my life.  What am I SURE about today, but, given an honest chance, or a fresh look in a new season of life, could I find is really different?  New challenges bringing forth new perspectives, which then bring forth new challenges.  And the cycle continues - whether it is at work, at home with my new husband, with friends and family, or most importantly… within.  Sure, there are growing pains, but really, I wouldn't have it any other way.

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. ~ Phil. 1:6 (MSG)