“So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.” -Hebrews 4:9-10

There are two phrases that I have been pondering these past couple of days. The first is the phrase “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The other is the phrase, “Give it a Rest”. 

I train and run with friends, and that makes all the difference. Our early Saturday morning long runs are slower jaunts through many of the beautiful Toledo Metroparks. Those runs are between 10-14 miles long, and the conversation is always rich, which helps the miles go by with very little effort. When I am unable to make it to our group long runs, I end up doing those runs alone, and the long miles drag on forever. What I have learned is that long term habits and disciplines are best done with and in a community. Think about the disciplines of prayer, worship, study, and service. “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. Who might you connect with in this new season to go far, together? 

I just finished a season of training to run the Toledo Owens-Corning Half Marathon, and now it is time to, “Give it a Rest”. For the past four months, I have been pounding the pavement through wind, snow, ice, and rain. But also, experiencing mornings with spectacular sunrises. But now it’s time to “Give it a Rest” and give my body time to rest and to heal. I have found that it is ok to cease doing something for a season, including long term habits and disciplines. Sometimes we find ourselves in a rut, and we are simply going through the motions. Think about the disciplines of prayer, worship, study, and service. In this new season of warmth and sunshine, I plan to ride my bike on Devil’s Hole Road (It’s real! Google it!) and lace up my hiking shoes to hit the trails with Rachel. Come late August, I will get back to training with my running friends for a fall Half Marathon, but until then, I will “Give it a Rest”. What are some practices and disciplines that you might put to rest in this new season?