Saturday, 01 April 2006
Lent: Running & Reading
Due to recent illness, my running and keeping fit aspirations for Lent have fallen by the wayside somewhat. Hopefully now that I am feeling much better I can remedy this. I really feel this part of my Lent ambitions is important. I need to prove to myself I can do this, and I can only do this with God's help.
Maybe I was pushing myself too hard before. Maybe the illness was God's way of telling me to slow down and follow His path? We'll see. I know He has been telling me that it is time to try again - ten years has almost passed.
Despite this, other Lent aspirations have gone exceedingly well. I have read all of the New Testament. I finished last night. I originally intended, when I started a few days into Lent, to just read the Gospels, but when I finished these quite quickly I felt compelled to continue.
I found it very insightful and challenging. There is a lot for me to think about. I shall ask God to guide me on His path as I make decisions about my life based upon what I have read. I already knew He is always by my side, now I have been given some food for thought about what is required of me in return.
I admit, it has been a long while since I read the New Testament in more than short bursts. In recent years I have concentrated on the Old Testament, as I know for a fact that there are parts of this I have not read. This I shall now take up again, in the hope of completing by the end of the year.
Also, I am halfway through John Peel's autobiography - which is to say, I have read the half John Peel wrote. His family finished it for him after his death. I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far, and I look forward to what his family add. It is true what the cover says - you can really hear his voice throughout the first half.
So, I am proud to say my reading for this year is going well, at least. I have read all five Hitchhikers books, also. After Peel (and while reading the OT) I have Marco Polo to read. And now I have finally unpacked my Dickens collection!!! Perhaps when I have finished that (all 15 books, comprising 21 novels and other writings), I'll have unpacked the rest of my books...
This will definitely be the year of running and reading for me - and hopefully some writing, too. :)
Goodnight!
