Eagle Creek Adventure Report

This post originally appeared back in 2008.  Enjoy...

Hey Guys,

FINALLY!!!! It was a lengthy, slow process, yet I was finally able to post some pictures from last Sunday's Eagle Creek Adventure.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then here are several thousand words which summarize the fun, fitness, and fellowship of our Adventure. If you were on the fence about joining us and didn't go for it, I'm truly sorry as you missed one of, if not the best Adventures to date. Don't let another one slip by without doing all you can to participate. Remember, these Adventure's are not races, they are appropriate for all fitness levels. All you need is an Adventurous spirit, a willingness to let go of your fears and "No Excuses!"

Hope to see you at our next Adventure, which if all works out will be early October. Stay tuned for announcements and dates and feel free to share your suggestions and ideas for upcoming Adventures; I plan to do them through the winter as well.

In Peace,
Chris

The group "before" getting sweating, dusty, and blissed out from the Adventure.

Unleash the hounds! The Adventure begins...

One of the bonus obstacles/challenges along the way. Here, Margaret makes it look easy.


John "Johan" Singleton showing excellent trail running form. You'd never know he's a cyclist : -), that's the beauty of cross-training and yoga. Going into the turn, notice his proper head tilt and leading from his pelvis/heart? Great stuff...

Alison cranks 'em out!

Yup, we even did some abs...

And more abs...

And did I mention pull ups..?

I really liked this "action" shot taken on a section of single track.

That's ultra-fit Kyle Rush doing his impersonation of "Tarzan"

It wouldn't be the same without some plyos in the mix

See, it can't be all that bad if they are smiling.

Oh and were there some hills! Some took the stairs, some charged up the trail instead. No escalators around these parts...

Project Test Pilot, "Big Daddy" Matt has become a born-again athlete (former cheerleader at U of K). That's fellow Test Pilot, Linda right on his heels.

Though all too short, this section was/is my favorite on the Adventure. Running through the reeds, nice soft single track, which winds along the resevoir shore line.

Post hike/run yoga session. Sooo nice for the hips.

Real Warriors of the body, mind, and spirit!

Jen feelin' it after the run. Though, I think Jen was acting here. Acting is her profession, so it's kinda hard to tell : -)

The dynamic duo. Pam, right, was the hero of the day in more ways than one. Great job Loretta!

A great view from the deck of the Peace Learning Center


Healthful post-Adventure treats!

One of our pit-stops along the route, a chance to take in the wonders and beauty that is offered at Eagle Creek Park

John doing what he says he does best... chillin'. John made the Eagle Creek Adventure a part of his own personal Adventure as he rode his bike to and from Eagle Creek, which made for an additional 2 hours of fun! Way to go John!

Y'all come back now, ya hear...

Gratitude, Conviction, and the Perils of Comfort

Monday morning as I settled in for my devotions I was really hit with a sense of gratitude.  In light of the tornadoes that passed through Indiana on Sunday, leaving devastation in their wake, I thought of all those without electricity, without water, without a home, without their loved ones.  I, on the other hand, sat with hot cup of coffee in my hand; home intact.  The dishwasher was running in the background, my loved ones were safe and asleep in their comfortable bed.  Our refrigerator and pantry were both stocked with an abundance of food.  I truly lack nothing.  What a contrast.

Yet, I didn't feel just a sense of thankfulness for all I have and a sense of loss for others and for those who suffer on a daily basis.  I also felt convicted because of my life of such extreme comfort and ease.  I live in luxury when compared to many who might live in poverty, without enough food, who suffer with chronic physical, mental, or emotional pain.  I wondered if the life I'm living, this life of ease, is really what Jesus had in mind when he preached to his Disciples.  I wondered if I wasn't more like the man who walked away after Jesus told him to go and sell everything and then, "come, follow me".   How attached am I to my life of comfort and ease? 

Matthew 19 NIV:

21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

I'm not saying this in a "Eat everything on your plate!  Don't you know there are starving children that would give anything to have that food!", shame inducing way.  I'm saying this in a  "Man, my needs are met and exceeded.  My life is blessed!  Who am I to complain about the stress in my life?  Who am I to complain about work?  Who am I to complain about my 'first world' problems?  Who am I to think that my life is somehow hard or a struggle?"  What a joke! 

So much of our suffering, our stress, our worries, and our pain is self inflicted.  Most of us have our basic needs met.  We have the time and luxury to be stressed about the things that stress us out - Shuttling our kids to all their activities and appointments.  Getting to the grocery store and still having time to make it to the gym before we need to be home for dinner.  Worrying about our cable being out during the football game.  Concern for getting a promotion at work, making a big sale or excelling in our career.  Worry over getting a newer, bigger, vehicle or keeping up with the latest beauty and fashion trend.  It's really no wonder we are a nation where many struggle with our compulsions and dysfunctions to the degree that we do.

When our needs are met, surpassed and in excess, we really don't have to rely on a Higher Power to get through our day or to get through our life.  Our comfort and ease becomes a stumbling block in our spiritual journey.  How much harder is it to develop a life of complete surrender and dependence on God when, in our mind, the only things we have to pray about is for our sports team to win, for a new job or promotion, for a relationship to work out in our favor, for God to relieve our "stress".  Is life really that stressful?  Are we focused on what we should be focused on?  Are we getting tripped up not because of our life, but in spite of our life?  Are we trusting and relying on the "I" rather than in the "I AM"? 

For the past 15+ years I have used physical training as part of my path for spiritual transformation.  Rather than just working out, I make an effort to use my training in the gym, the mat, the trail to gain insight and to help erase my own attachment to comfort and ease.  I use my daily life and physical practice as an aid in cultivating my relationship with God and reliance on Him.  I've found this to be an excellent arena for spiritual training.  How do I react when a workout becomes difficult?  Can I be peaceful and calm when the physical pain is pushing my brain to stop?  What do I learn in those moments that I find it more appealing to stay on the couch rather than attend to my practice?  Do I learn to rely on the Lord in these moments and not my own capacity?  Can I learn to surrender to the I AM and not my limited abilities and understanding?  Life can be hard so the intention isn't to make it harder or to somehow increase your suffering as though there were merit in that concept.  The intention is to create an environment where you get out of comfort and ease to learn about who you are, who you are not, and to connect with and completely trust in something bigger than yourself.  

Rather than compartmentalizing things in such a way that some of our activities relate to our spiritual practice and others seemingly do not relate, realize the connection and ways that you can link them together.  Use my example if you engage in a physical practice of some sort and make it part of your spiritual training.  Be mindful, prayerful and grateful when you are cleaning your home.  Can you bring your reliance on God into your work, into your relationships and even into your hobbies?  As a former teacher of mine, Steve Ilg, used to say - "Life is practice.  Practice is life.  There is no separation."

Peace and Gratitude,

Chris