Comments on: Training: for a triathlon and for God http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:32:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Melissa http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1778 Melissa Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:57:22 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1778 I have been chewing on this thread and enjoying all the comments. It has made me reflect on the parallels to the spiritual journey...while I am not one to push myself physically very often, I can relate to the times in my life when spiritually I have felt pushed and stretched to my outer limits...and I can see that if I only glance over my shoulder, God is there coaching me every step of the way...how many times have I prayed, please, just let me get through this next step and just when I thought I could not take another moment, along came the breakthrough. I firmly believe that body/mind/spirit are intertwined and Sister Julie, I think it is outstanding that you are taking on this physical challenge as it will also strengthen spirit and mind. Whatever we do on one of these levels has a positive effect on the others. On that note, you GO girl!! I have been chewing on this thread and enjoying all the comments. It has made me reflect on the parallels to the spiritual journey…while I am not one to push myself physically very often, I can relate to the times in my life when spiritually I have felt pushed and stretched to my outer limits…and I can see that if I only glance over my shoulder, God is there coaching me every step of the way…how many times have I prayed, please, just let me get through this next step and just when I thought I could not take another moment, along came the breakthrough. I firmly believe that body/mind/spirit are intertwined and Sister Julie, I think it is outstanding that you are taking on this physical challenge as it will also strengthen spirit and mind. Whatever we do on one of these levels has a positive effect on the others.
On that note, you GO girl!!

]]> By: Natty http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1779 Natty Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:33:56 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1779 I don't have anything substantive to add to the discussion, but I did want to say thank you to everyone who shared on this one. What a great meal of food for thought! Not that I'm anywhere near taking up running or training for a triathlon. It was the spiritual parallels and many voices that made me want to pop in with a simple (if wordy) "thanks!" I don’t have anything substantive to add to the discussion, but I did want to say thank you to everyone who shared on this one. What a great meal of food for thought! Not that I’m anywhere near taking up running or training for a triathlon. It was the spiritual parallels and many voices that made me want to pop in with a simple (if wordy) “thanks!”

]]> By: Chris Valka, CSB http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1782 Chris Valka, CSB Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:13:20 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1782 I have been a distance runner (officially) for about three years and in that time I have come to understand many, many similarities between endurance athletics and the spiritual life. In a marathon, the first and last miles are certainly the most difficult. I often start out a bit stiff and find it difficult to make my way through the crowd into my own space and stride. By the end, your body is telling you to stop but it is then that your will must take over -- and usually when your prayers become a bit more frequent. However, I have found it is not these prayers that are the important ones; rather, it is the prayer that occurs along the journey. Between mile 2 and 25, or whatever distance a person is running, is an opportunity to enjoy the journey. Breathing is the part of running I enjoy most. When things are whizzing by, I focus on the breath that comes from within. No matter how crazy the world around me may seem (if you run in a large city, you understand what I mean), my training allows me to still myself and enjoy the moment. At that point, running becomes a prayer and my training out there becomes my training for every other part of life. In addition to being a runner, I am also a seminarian soon to be ordained. Over the years, by far the most common question is "when are you going to be a priest?" Of course, it is an answer I know, but it is not something I choose to dwell on. If I enter a race or set out on a run with only the end in mind, it would be a miserable experience. Running is about the process, not the destination. The same is true in our relationship with God. So when you see me smiling as I cross a finish line, it is not because I am finished (well, maybe it is that too), but because of what I have just experienced along the journey. The toughest part is getting started -- running, like praying, makes little sense when you do it for short moments. The challenge is for all of us to get out there and settle in for the long haul -- I promise it gets easier once you get going. I have been a distance runner (officially) for about three years and in that time I have come to understand many, many similarities between endurance athletics and the spiritual life. In a marathon, the first and last miles are certainly the most difficult. I often start out a bit stiff and find it difficult to make my way through the crowd into my own space and stride. By the end, your body is telling you to stop but it is then that your will must take over — and usually when your prayers become a bit more frequent. However, I have found it is not these prayers that are the important ones; rather, it is the prayer that occurs along the journey. Between mile 2 and 25, or whatever distance a person is running, is an opportunity to enjoy the journey. Breathing is the part of running I enjoy most. When things are whizzing by, I focus on the breath that comes from within. No matter how crazy the world around me may seem (if you run in a large city, you understand what I mean), my training allows me to still myself and enjoy the moment. At that point, running becomes a prayer and my training out there becomes my training for every other part of life.

In addition to being a runner, I am also a seminarian soon to be ordained. Over the years, by far the most common question is “when are you going to be a priest?” Of course, it is an answer I know, but it is not something I choose to dwell on. If I enter a race or set out on a run with only the end in mind, it would be a miserable experience. Running is about the process, not the destination. The same is true in our relationship with God. So when you see me smiling as I cross a finish line, it is not because I am finished (well, maybe it is that too), but because of what I have just experienced along the journey. The toughest part is getting started — running, like praying, makes little sense when you do it for short moments. The challenge is for all of us to get out there and settle in for the long haul — I promise it gets easier once you get going.

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1781 Sister Julie Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:04:23 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1781 And Cathy, I most certainly will let you know how it goes. It's definitely a commitment and work, but at least for me, it's all about having heart. And Cathy, I most certainly will let you know how it goes. It’s definitely a commitment and work, but at least for me, it’s all about having heart.

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1780 Sister Julie Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:01:53 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/07/16/training-for-a-triathlon-and-for-god/#comment-1780 Good point, RedheadedCyclone ... Saint Paul writes about exactly that thing later in the letter to the Corinthians ... "No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) Your comment, Martha, is right on ... for me the triathlon is not to "win" or to "compete" but simply to train and to cross the finish line. Also, the triathlon I'm doing is to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation (an organization dedicated to saving lives and ending breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures). So my little athletic endeavor is not just about me but about a larger goal of supporting people touched by breast cancer and standing (and swimming, biking, and running) with them. That mut have been quite a journey, Sandy. Wow! Good point, RedheadedCyclone … Saint Paul writes about exactly that thing later in the letter to the Corinthians … “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Your comment, Martha, is right on … for me the triathlon is not to “win” or to “compete” but simply to train and to cross the finish line. Also, the triathlon I’m doing is to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation (an organization dedicated to saving lives and ending breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures). So my little athletic endeavor is not just about me but about a larger goal of supporting people touched by breast cancer and standing (and swimming, biking, and running) with them.

That mut have been quite a journey, Sandy. Wow!

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