In and Out of Step

A few days ago, I set a goal to write one more post for this month. If you know me at all, it will not surprise you that I am waiting until after 10 pm to fulfill this goal.

I'm proud to say that I've been particularly faithful in my walking and jogging time. If it weren't for ankles that felt as if they were about to break, I would continue increasing my jogging until it was all jogging and no walking. Does anyone have a cure for that? I've never experienced pain in my ankles like this. I literally wince with every step when I jog.

Anyway, I've also added Pilates to my daily routine. Let me tell you, I've been feeling the burn, and it's awesome.

When I walked into the house tonight, I planned on getting into my walking clothes, only to sweat off half of my body weight in the extreme humidity. I, instead, had the surprise of my friend, Rebekah, and my mom telling me that it was too humid to walk, and we would be following a 1994 work out video as a supplement.

This turned into what has probably been the most ridiculous event our living room has ever seen. Between laughing at the instructor and running into each other, I'm not sure how much quality working out went on during our time together.

We spent a significant amount of time out of step during the "work out," but that was as much because of our goofing around as it was our general lack of know-how. Now that I'm writing this, I really wish I had pictures of this to share.

I wonder how much of my life is spent "in step." I wish I could say most of it, but maybe that isn't accurate. In some ways, I feel like I'm often "out of step" and just plain awkward. I'm the person who stutters on the phone, or says the wrong thing at the wrong time, or stuffs a big bite of food in my mouth right before someone asks me what I want to do with my life.

And that's how I generally feel I am. By trying to avoid awkward situations, I somehow make them worse. Do you know what I'm talking about? Do you know someone like this? Are you someone like this? I hope I'm not the only one.

Twice this week, I specifically felt like I was "in step" with where God wanted me. I felt like I followed what I was being led to do. Both times included praying with someone who needed comfort.... something I don't feel I offer very well. Usually I feel a small twinge that I could use a moment to do that sort of thing, but I let it go. During these two instances, I couldn't, and I was amazed at how easy it seemed when I actually did it.

I was reminded by a friend earlier this week that we are to allow the Holy Spirit to live and lead in us, and that we often forget about it. This week, I felt a desire that I think I had lost for awhile. A desire to be used. To be "in step."