Saturday, December 16, 2023

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:5

Illustrated by Declyn Thompson, age 7

I once heard a wise person say, “Endurance is concentrated patience.”

OK, it was a Peloton instructor who said it (I love my Peloton app!), and what he meant was that we (my virtual classmates and I) should stay the course in what was a brutally uncomfortable class because (as fitness instructors love to say):  What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! Legends aren’t built overnight! You’re stronger than you think! *

I thought more about that quote when I caught my breath long enough during the 60-minute class. Isn’t it just the perfect way to remember God’s enduring love for us? In a world filled with uncertainty, fragility, and constant change, it helps me to think that God’s love is built with patience and endurance. 2023 has been hard. I’ve been there this year as friends grieved the loss of parents, as extended family members navigated scary health diagnoses, and as my own family of six swam through waters of change and uncertainty. 2023 has also been so good. I’ve witnessed providential connections with new and old friends, enjoyed the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and felt a crazy amount of “God nudges” toward light and goodness.

Life (and the Advent season) can often feel like an unending cycle class – one minute, you’re cruising in the saddle, all wheels up and full of energy. The next minute, your feet can’t move for the weight of the pedals, and you’re gasping for breath, thinking, I did not see this coming! But if we stay the course long enough – and trust in God’s enduring and patient love – we’ll get to the good parts (the cooldown and the post-workout snacks) and be that much stronger as we journey alongside God through the many miles of life.

*I am also a [very] part-time fitness instructor, so I feel licensed to make these assumptions as these exact words come out of my mouth in almost every class I teach!

Dear God, as we journey through the season of Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation, we come before you with hearts open and spirits willing. Grant us the patience to await the unfolding of your divine plan, trusting in your perfect timing.  Amen

Cheryl Perry, SMPC Director of Communications 

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