Something I haven't talked about

Friday, April 25, 2008

I did a quick search on my blog and I realize I haven’t really written anything specific about PERSEVERANCE. A big word often used in sermons people DO NOT want to hear in church.
Christians or not, we are interested in quick fixes – look at the multi-million dollar weight loss industry for example: anything different than look like a star instantly is not that popular.
I’ve come to a great part of my journey. I’m happy with results but I’m wondering if there’s anything else I can do. I’m analyzing my goals. They have changed a lot from July 2007. My goal then was just to lose weight. I’ve acquire other benefits from the weight loss along the way but I’m just searching for more. I wonder if I’m addicted to rules.
I was talking to my health educator recently. I told her that if you are on Atkins or South Beach there are phases on those diets. They introduce and reintroduce foods you can and cannot eat. My approach to weight loss is one where there are not forbidden foods, you eat what is good for you. In this approach you have room for dessert if you wish. I guess my mind felt I needed more rules by now and the only thing I know to do is to persevere, to keep doing what I’m doing. What do dictionaries define as perseverance?


per·se·ver·ance - steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Perseverance commonly suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties or steadfast and long-continued application: Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end.

So the plan is to persist steadily in the course of action. What action? Eat the correct amount of nutrients, eliminate stress, exercise often, find contentment, pay attention to my thought life, help someone along the way.
In spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement, never give up. That’s a challenge in itself but it can be done. I haven’t given up since July of 2007. I haven’t given up during Thanksgiving, Christmas, a trip to Brasil for almost a month, for months of heightened stress at work, it was difficult but I did not give up. Talking about persistence and living it are two different things. I don’t think there’s a lot of exciting in the simple act of persisting, the 'feeling good' comes afterwards.

Why persist? I want to finish what I have started. For many people 26 pounds is good enough. Maybe it is exactly what they need but I need more than that. I still need to continue to build endurance in my life. This summer for example I'll still have some temptations and trials to endure. They will make me a stronger woman who can help others on their journey. There are lessons to learn, so why give up now?

I think about when I got my Mater’s degree. It started with all kinds of excitement. Each class, each project became a challenge. The hardest part was the end of the course. God saved the best for last. The hardest lesson I learned had nothing to do with journalism or writing but it had to do with pride. I had carried intellectual pride for too long and it was time to give up. I gave up and I moved on to humbleness and acceptance of God’s will for my life.

I believe the lesson for now is to learn to persevere and not to give up. My confession I keep on the sidebar of this blog is a great encouragement. I look at myself that I do not lose the things I worked for but that I may receive a full reward. Rewards do not come with compliments from people. Rewards do not come with less pounds on the scale. Rewards come from God who wants me to be a better person.
I have other areas of my life I could use some persevering. I’m gonna thing about that this weekend.