Focus IV and My Waistline

I turned 25 and my metabolism broke, at least that is what I have told myself as an excuse as well as a reassurance of the possibility that it may indeed fix itself. In this whole idea of focus I haven't talked much about my focus, but I did tell you briefly that my declining health had reached critical mass as had my waistline. 

Now I know some of you are thinking, "Peter, don't be ridiculous you are the very definition of man," and for that I thank you, but I have also begun to realize that I am not 17 anymore and I don't burn 1,000 calories a day swimming in a speedo (you're welcome for that mental image). I have also realized that there is this crazy thing called metabolism that God created to keep us honest about the foods we ingest and about the same time we are forced to pay taxes he slows this thing down, way down. I don't listen to country music much anymore, but it reminds me of the line in Trace Adkins song "Hot Mama" that says, "you want that body back you had at 17." So in case you were wondering, yes, I want to be a hot mama.

In my study about focus this little diddy came up in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

Dangit.

This idea of remaining healthy and staying fit has always been something that was in the back of my mind even when I could wear a size 30 speedo and my man thighs didn't rip the bottom seam of my suit. I knew my whole life I was going to have to be aware of my weight when I got older because my Dad struggled with his weight as he aged.

About 5 weeks ago I hit a weight that I never wanted to be and beyond that a waist size I can barely count to. I decided something needed to change, I needed to focus. I needed to make my body a slave to the discipline that not only are we called to as Christians but also to my commitment to be on this earth as long as I can for the furthering of the message of Christ and for the well-being of my family (yes, they are better off with me here, at least at this point in our lives).

This focus hasn't been easy and as I write this we are having some friends and family come over to eat pizza and hang out with babies. A perfect night as long as I don't give in to the temptation of blurring my focus. The fact is that it is easier to blur your eyes when they are in focus than to try and focus them when you need glasses.

Focus needs to remain at the forefront of my thoughts, the verse that has torn my to shreds is 1 Corinthians 3:13-14 (which I talk about in my first post) and in that passage the term "strain forward" shows up. In order to focus I have to strain forward, and that word strain conjures up feelings of pain and constancy, which is what we have to endure in order to focus. At times we need to endure pain and we always must remain constant lest we fall back into our old habits.

So my weight is not yet under control but I have remained focused in my pursuit to get it there. In other words I have 5 weeks down and about my whole life to go. Focus, it isn't always easy, but my straining forward will allow me to reach my desired goal.

What goals do you have that you need to strain for? What areas of your life do you need to discipline? How big is your waist line? (Just kidding).

Have a good weekend all.

Focus III on Poop

When I was being potty trained it was really easy for me, so easy that I don't even remember it, which means it couldn't have been that insurmountable of an obstacle.  I must have been drawn to the porcelain naturally, consequently, I still am, hmm.  

Cooper has been in the midst of potty training for the last twoish weeks and he has been a champ when it comes to onesies (the act peeing in the toilet, not the popular baby clothing).  He even sleeps through his naps and the night without wetting the bed, pretty awesome.  Twosies thus far have been an issue though.  By issue I mean he went numero dos in his underwear and as I was cleaning that up he squatted again and pooped on the floor, while 4 of my best friends were chatting with me on Google+, awesome.


I started thinking about the change that Cooper is trying to make.  For two and a half years this kid has done his business in what he was wearing and continued on his way as if nothing were wrong, because in his mind, there wasn't.  Now he is at a point where he has to change his entire way of thinking.  It isn't just the act of going to the bathroom in the toilet, it is the act of recognizing that what he is doing is no longer acceptable and he needs to change that habit.


I read this verse this morning and the thought of focusing has ripped me to pieces lately:


"Romans 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."


When we focus it isn't just that we need to know what we are doing and the direction we are headed, but we need to make sure our thinking is changing from the flesh to the Spirit.  We need to make sure our focus is on the Spirit and what He has for us, not what we wish we had ourselves.


That's when I thought about the change Cooper is making into self-sufficiency, and obviously we have a ways to go before we can wash our hands of helping him in the bathroom or even dressing him for that matter, but he is on his way to  life change because he is recognizing that the old way of doing things is no longer okay, their is a new better way to do his business.


We need to focus on the new, better way of doing our business, focusing our minds and our sights on the Spirit, not on the flesh.


What is something you have had trouble focusing on because it was difficult to attain?


Mine is staying in decent shape.  We will talk about that tomorrow.

Focus II

I have been trying to lose weight recently, I am not doing P90X, or drinking green tea, mostly because I can't afford either, I am merely eating better and exercising.  About a week into this whole weight loss thing I went on a run and I got a sharp pain on the inside of my left leg, slightly above my ankle.  I ignored it and kept running, I figured it would go away like spider bites and feathered hair.  The next day I went out to run again and the same thing happened except the pain was more severe and started to hurt with each step I took.

So I went to my doctor, Doctor Internet, and she told me (Yes, the internet is a girl) I had a stress fracture in my leg, usually brought on by excessive running after long periods of fat.  I didn't want to give up on my diet but running is the way I have always slimmed down when I wasn't feeling comfortable and this stress fracture was knocking me out of running for 6-8 weeks.

I had to figure something out, because with the holiday season coming up I needed to lose weight so I could put it back on and continue the vicious cycle.  I decided I had to eat waaaaay better, that cheese was  not a food group, and that the weight set in my garage was going to be put to good use.  So I'm three weeks in and have been pretty successful thus far, but I had to focus on my goal in order to achieve success.

The idea of focus has been plaguing me (I am always scared I am going to misspell plaguing and make it plaquing and then the whole world will think I have bad teeth). Focus is a funny thing because you don't realize you are out of whack until you are squinting to see the score of the game, or asking your wife to read the back of the cereal box to you.

Focus, like a lot of things is something you don't miss until it is gone.  It begs the question, "how, then, do I get focused?"  For me, I am a "type A" personality when it comes to my expectations of others and a "type B" when it comes to others expectations of me, that may just mean I am a jerk, but I do indeed expect a lot out of myself.

I can't accomplish much, however, unless I feel like my private life is in order, this can be anything from, I forgot to do the dishes that I told Sarah I would take care of to lingering sin issues in my life.  Unless I clear up the junk that is hindering me from straining forward, then I become distracted.

So, how do I focus? I clear out the junk and strain forward, with my eye on the prize.  That and have a strong cup of coffee before, during, and after work.

How do you focus?