First Workout and Other Thoughts

I finally got around to beginning the physical aspect of this Lent experience last night.  I had been putting it off because, well, I'm lazy.  Last night, though, I realized that I had to do it.  After all, I had committed to doing it and, if I'm not going to go full bore on this stuff, why bother.  So I fired up the Wii and did a round on EA Active.

All of that said, it felt pretty good to get up and going.  It felt even better that I decided to work out during the second half of Purdue's debacle against VCU last night.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process and look forward to continuing it now that I've broken the ice.

In other thoughts, I read through 1 Samuel on Saturday night, which tells the story of how God's people ended up with a king.  What strikes me about the whole story is that it seems that God permits Israel to have a king even though it might not be the best thing for them.  God hears them grumble and complain and ask for a king and tells the priest Samuel, who had been leading the people:

Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights. (1 Samuel 8:9)

As I read this, I couldn't help but think of all the times that I have demanded something in my own life, absolutely convinced that what I wanted was the right thing for me - just as the Israelites were convinced that a king would be perfect for them.

And just as God warned the Israelites, God warns me - saying, "Be careful, Joe, this thing you want will cost a lot. It will make claims on your time, your space, your life."  Yet God still lets me do it.

Because God is a God who gives us the room to choose.  We are free to make our own decisions, even if God knows those decisions will not turn out the best for us.  We are free to choose God's path or another path.  Of course, our lives would be better if we chose God's path...but we are free to do otherwise.