Man Up

I was reading this morning in 2 Kings, chapter 2. David was near death and was issuing a charge to his son, Solomon. In that charge he said, "Be strong, and show yourself a man..." I thought it was interesting because David didn't define what kind of man. Apparently, to him a man has certain character traits by definition. And he must have believed that Solomon knew what he was talking about because he didn't explain to him what kind of man to be.

So what does it mean to be a man? Yesterday I happened across a blog that posted a series on how to be a better man in 30 days. I would love to hear what you think. Ladies, too.

Big Wheels Keep On Turnin'

Over the summer I actually lost some weight playing golf. I know that sounds counterintuitive because most people don't see golf as a sport. But every time we played, we walked, and coincidentally, every time we played it was literally impossible for me to sit on the couch and eat cookies. Since golf season has ended for us, I have gained almost all of the weight back, so I decided to look for an activity that the kids and I could do over the winter. I used to ride mountain bikes and I thought that would be a good sport to introduce them to. It's fun, challenging and it's something they will be able to participate in for years to come.

Since starting to ride, it's been fun to see them develop skills. When we get to a difficult part in the trail, we'll stop and talk about what is the best way to negotiate the section. I noticed, though that these talks aren't just about mountain biking. Mountain biking is giving me yet another opportunity to teach them about life and faith. Here are some lessons we're learning:

1. Never look where you don't want to go. Plain and simple. You will steer the bike where you are looking. If there is an obstacle, such as a large hole, that you want to avoid, you will run in it every time if you focus on it. The same is true concerning temptations and bad habits in life. My pastor talked about this just this past Sunday. He told a great story about being at home alone with a piece of his daughter's pie. He was focusing on the pie and came very close to eating it. If you are trying to lose weight you can't focus on the food you can't have. You have to focus on where you want to go instead.

2. Never take obstacles sitting down. When you come to a rough patch in the trail, you can't stay on the seat and hope everything turns out all right. You have to build momentum and then stand on the pedals. Your legs will act like shock absorbers and your balance will be better. Similarly, when you experience difficult times in life, be proactive. Don't let stuff happen and hope that it turns out all right. We don't always see what's coming, but the point is don't just be a victim. Find the best route and go for it.

3. Never give up. Bryanna and Michael aren't used to this kind of riding so they crash a lot. Of course, I've been riding on and off for years and I still crash a lot. And yes, it hurts when you hit the ground, but you have to get back on the bike. As humans, we are not perfect. We fall. We get hurt. We get dirty. But you can't give up. When you fall to that temptation that continually nags at you, don't just lay there defeated. GET UP! Now that's not to say you should ride 50 yards out of the trail to go through some mud like Michael does, but when you fail, and you will, know that God loves you and He is always looking for you to return to Him.

Are there any activities in your life that are helping you teach your kids? Or that may be teaching you a few lessons? I'd love to hear about it. Please comment below.