“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)
There are times when my weekend long runs seem like a journey of a thousand miles. It invariably happens somewhere around mile 19. My legs get heavy and my knees and joints start to ache. This is also when I begin to focus on the ground just below my footstrikes, rather than the long winding road ahead of me. When I adjust my focus, my whole body seems to react with a new sense of calm and confidence. I take the focus off of where I am headed, and even of where I’ve been, and I put it squarely on where I am. Those few feet ahead of me, are welcoming, and easy to reach. They are attainable. I can settle back into my breathing, or my music, and just lose myself in the run once again.
I find this a valuable insight in other areas of my life as well. In my business life, sometimes projects seem to pile up, and deadlines loom ahead like an oncoming freight train. Lost business or missed opportunities haunt the past. But, if I can prioritize and concentrate on the most important tasks at hand, and focus on those immediate needs, I can get things done and then move on to the next task.
Personal relationships can be bruised and battered by neglect, or even worse by hurtful words or actions. Thoughts of how to remedy these hurts from long ago can stifle any action to make repairs and reconcile. If I can separate myself from a past transgression, and make the effort to restore the communication, I can at least put the relationship back on track and onto a road to recovery. But, I have to concentrate on the here and now, and not think so much about the past or future…those were such terrible things I said…how could I have done such a thing…how will I feel if I reach out and I am rejected; how will that add additional hurt? I can’t dwell on a past hurt and I can’t think about a future failure. It must be the present moment spent with another, to begin to deal with and repair a hurtful past.
I look at my spiritual life as a relationship. It is simply a relationship with God. And so, this same thing can happen with my time with God. Have I behaved badly in the past? Have I ignored God in pursuing my own selfish interests? I need to acknowledge my failures in the past, but not dwell on them to the point of further damaging my relationship with God. “I am sorry, God. I will do my best to not do that again.” And then, in the here and now, let’s get on with our relationship.
Sometimes when the road is long and weary; when business seems overwhelming; when relationships are strained and difficult, it is best to focus on the ground just beneath your feet. That space of the here and now, and focus on small steps to carry you along that thousand mile journey of life.
