Repeat. NO WAY! On the order side of all the brave things we do, there is not an end. Each new brave thing beckons more brave things.
A little over a year ago, I started running. I had never run more than a 400 yard dash previously. In fact, I was sure I had exercise induced asthma. I would never be able to keep it up. But I downloaded a free running app and started a walk/run regimen. I forced myself out three mornings per week after the school bus drop to run. I saw no difference for 6 weeks, then 8 weeks. I said every morning, “I hate this! But I’m going to do it anyway.” And I pushed on. At 9 weeks, I noticed that my chest stopped burning and I was up to 2 miles of steady running. But I saw no other changes.
I was discouraged.
It was at this point that I began to ask my running friends if I should quit. I just could not see how this would work out. Some folks said, “somethings wrong.”
Others said, “Keep going.” I wanted to grow in this area so much that I chose to keep going. Three more weeks and longer runs and I finally began to see change. I began to wake up and crave the run! I found a rhythm and stopped feeling hate toward the task. Six months later I ran my first 5K and outran my 18 year old! My 20 year old began to tell his friends that he could not match my distance and that they couldn’t either. At about 11 months, I ran my first 10K. Then onto trail running. Running had finally become easier. It began to feel natural. And through each set back (surgery, injury, travel), I’ve been able to move back into the rhythm.
It’s the same with our voice. No matter what way we are given to influence our world, the more we do, the easier it becomes. So, REPEAT! Don’t give up and keep going. This is all a part of expressing your art, with excellence, to the glory of God!
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