RELIGION: Just a little farther

A couple of months ago, I lost my mind and signed myself up for one of the popular outdoor fitness boot camps.

I was to show up at 6 a.m., four mornings a week for four weeks. Those who know me laughed because they know I'm not an early bird - I'm a night owl. And, as a matter of personal conviction, I don't run. Running hurts.

As you read this I am halfway through the last week and I'm still alive. Rebecca greets us each morning, impossibly perky and cheerful, and we get down to business right away. And I mean business. We're running, jumping, dashing, stepping up and doing pushups, slinging weights, doing things with corny names like "Super Stars," "Karaokes" and "Farmers Around the World" (you'll have to sign up yourself to find out what all of these are). All the while, Rebecca, in her annoyingly cheery way, is bossing us around, because that's what we are paying her to do.

The very first morning I had to run a mile and I knew I was going to die. Knew it. Before I started boot camp I had said to my husband, "I just don't want to be last." I started out pretty much being last. Then Jodi graciously volunteered to be last by injuring her calf-muscle, so now I get to be second last, which makes me feel so much better.

We're a bit of a rag-tag bunch, all different shapes and sizes and ages. Some are really fit and do annoying things like effortlessly lift 15-pound bells while I am straining with my "heavy" 2-pounders. They don't know it but the rest of us make faces at them behind their backs. Well, I guess they know it now.

What I am trying to say is that this boot camp thing is really, really hard. And it's really, really good. Just because something is hard, or even hurts, does not mean it isn't good or important to do.

During my newfound activity of running in circles I have had a lot of time to think and the word that keeps popping into my head is "perseverance" along with "endurance" and "stamina," of which I have very little. We need these things, not only in our bodies, but in our heads, too. We need to persevere through life, we need endurance to see through commitments, we need stamina to keep going day after day, running the good race, fighting the good fight.

As I struggle through the circuit I start to play games with myself. If I can just make it to the next tree, then I can walk to the next one. If I can do two more pushups I can rest. It occurs to me that sometimes this is how we live, too. Lord, if I can just make it through this week, this day, this hour...

This Bible verse from Romans 5 also keeps going around in my head: "But we also rejoice in our suffering (ouch that was my knee), because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; (just a little farther) and character, hope (Lord I hope I don't die.)"

I joke a little, but it's true. What's hard and difficult can make us stronger - if we don't give up, if we don't quit.

Another verse that has been rattling in my brain with each step around the field is Hebrews 12:1: "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

In Galatians, chapter six, it says, "Let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit."

I'm hoping for a good harvest of improved health and fitness from not quitting boot camp, but I wonder what other good harvests we can look forward to through persevering. In our marriages? With our kids? In our jobs? Ministry?

Today I ran the quarter-mile loop without stopping. I couldn't do that three weeks ago. I didn't want to do that three weeks ago. But you know what? It feels so good not to quit, and to cross that finish line with my head held high, cheered on by my friends.

And Rebecca is not really annoying - she's awesome. I'm just jealous that I can't be that perky at 6 am - yet!

Jennifer Zach lives in Ahwatukee Foothills with her husband and three children. They are members of Bridgeway Community Church. She can be reached at jennizach@yahoo.com.