I think a lot. About all sorts of things. Depending on the day I will think about wondrous things, like just how does your hand work and how cool it is that it actually does work, or how we are able to stand on two not very large flat supports known as feet. It is amazing really. On other days I find myself thinking about my relationship, or my friends, or my seeming continuous lack of money. We all think about things, and as always I have been thinking again.

I decided last night that I need to start writing again. It has been awhile, and while I may not have that many readers rushing to read my new writings, it is still helpful none the less. Well, upon deciding I need to write again I began to think about why I felt this urge, this compulsion to write. While I don't think I have any conclusive mind blowing reasons, I believe fairly strongly that it has to do with my recent lack of motivation. I feel like I have not been fully in God's will.

Often times I will end up in a position where I just coast. Feeling like I am doing a good job. I gathered momentum and now I am able to sit back, relax, and still watch the scenery change. There is a problem with coasting. Eventually you run out of momentum and you come to a stop. Let me tell you, getting moving again after a complete stop is not easy. It would have been better if I just kept working.

I hate swimming. Well, hate is a fairly strong word, but a dislike it. I find it to be a lot of work. This summer I was visiting my girlfriend (sorry all you single ladies) up at her parents lake house. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a lot of wind. I feel so alive when the wind plays through my hair. It is an adventurous feeling. It was a warm day and the lake water was very inviting. So after awhile we decided to go swimming. I got in the water before my lady and it was the perfect temperature. Just a degree or two cooler than a warm bath. So I went out swimming a ways. We decided we would go swim out to the floating dock, about 100 feet away. It was a choppy day on the lake with all the wind, and after we got out about 40 feet we decided it was too difficult to make it against the current. We had worked hard for very little ground, or water. So we turned back. Even with the water now pushing us back to shore, I realized just how difficult that initial swim had been. I was very tired. If I had been in better shape perhaps this wouldn't have been such an issue, but I was really starting to worry if I could make it back. It was all I could do to put one arm in front of the other. I was starting to get this panicky feeling as the waves started to crash over me. It seemed like I wasn't getting any closer to shore. Of course Laura was not aware of these thoughts, I had to look like a man. So I pressed on with what strength I could muster. Finally I made it back with great relief.

That isn't just a random story. I used it to illustrate my point. If I hadn't kept swimming I would have likely drowned. I had to keep going, even when it seemed difficult. So why don't I do that in my spiritual life. It as if I think I have a life vest on and I can just rest a bit until I get moving when in reality as soon as I stop I start to drown spiritually. Its not an easy world. Maybe that's why Paul said he was pressing on to the goal. Pressing on doesn't suggest it is easy or even fun, but it has to be done or death is the only other option.

I still don't like swimming, but I like it better than drowning. Here's to swimming.

-Art