..."back in the saddle..."

This tale has a few "rabbit trails," ... but stick with it, it all comes full circle by the conclusion...

My sister called last night.  I was finishing up a run at the gym. I logged 4.25 miles.  I have been on "sabbatical" from cardio for the past few weeks. It just hasn't fit into my schedule. I have been squeezing in my weight-lifting once or twice a week, but the cario had gone to the wayside.

My sis asked, "What are you doing?"  "I'm back in the saddle," I replied.  It felt good to run again.  My hubs has been pestering me about it.  He is either worried about my mental health (much less grumpy when I run regularly) &/or he is fearful I will regain the 30+ lb's I have lost since taking up the healthy hobby of my teen-youth years. ( see blog April 11, 2011) ....

Truly my hubs is my accountability partner & knows how frustrated I will be with myself if I let the muscles, strength & endurance I have built fade away.

Back to the phone call from my sis (sort of)....
When I told her I was back in the saddle, it stirred a childhood tale in my mind.  When I was 12, my dad bought me an old horse.  He had a buddy who would buy the rodeo livestock when it was ready to be "put to pasture."  Calves which would lay down & put their legs in the air to be roped... and my old mare.  We named her Sammie and enjoyed trotting her around, usually bare back (without a saddle for all you city folk).

My uncle attended an annual trail ride in Russel Springs, Kansas. I had taken to tagging along each year.  We would camp, ride 10+miles on Saturday & a shorter scenic ride on Sunday.  The year Dad bought Sammie my sister joined us.  Sammie was little, tame and a perfect ride for my 8 year-old sister.  About half way through the ride, Sammie decided she had enough... laid down in the middle of the trail... and tried to shake my sister & the saddle off...
Remember, I usually rode her bare back... so wearing a saddle in the June Kansas heat & riding 10 miles was not Sammie's idea of a good time.  My sis hopped on the back of one of our horses and we lead Sammie the remaining way to camp pulling her by the reins.

This childhood tale has me thinking about other parts of my life that I have "slipped off the saddle."

Just like my jogging habit, there are times when my spiritual life is pushed to the back burner.... squeezed out by the busy-ness of life... the commitments I make & give a higher priority.

-not taking extended moments of silence and solitude...
-not meeting regularly with my spiritual mentor...
-not digging deep into God's word...

So dear readers, as I get ready to lace up my running shoes & head back to the gym I am blocking out an hour this afternoon for my quiet time with the Lord.
-To sit and pray my breath prayer, "Here I am Lord, help my heart to listen."
-To read my small group study of Ruth Haley Barton's Sacred Rhythms.

-To get back in the saddle & be disciplined in my living.