Finding Traction
“All I needed was enough traction to make it to the next step. I didn’t require the perfect footing, just good enough footing.”
Today, I spent a mile of my run hiking up a very steep hill filled with ice. I had no hobnails or microspikes. I just moved with all the traction I could find: rocks, roots, pine needles, dirt. I tried to keep as much of my shoe in contact with the ground as possible during each stride. I wondered several times, “Should I turn around and get the spikes from my car?” That would have been the safe and highly recommendable option. Everyone else had them, why shouldn’t I? I could have had a lot more fun with them, and I could have run instead of hiked it.
In that moment, it seemed like a matter of fear to me. Was my fear of falling on the ice getting in the way of my goals for the run (to enjoy it, to complete the time planned, to fuel well)? No. Fears get in the way of all kinds of things, but this wasn’t going to be one of them for me. Noticing fear can be very helpful, but while I was climbing, I didn’t notice it. I kept testing the ground with each step.
Fears get in the way of all kinds of things, but this wasn’t going to be one of them for me.
All I needed was enough traction to make it to the next step. I didn’t require the perfect footing, just good enough footing. It can be easy to try to wait for the “perfect” opportunity to take a step out of your comfort zone. Maybe your relationship with God isn’t where you want it to be. Maybe you struggle to balance running with a newborn and/or a new job and/or a move. Maybe you’ve got so much going on that you think all you can do is to take life as it comes. You know deep down that there will never be a perfect opportunity to take the next step. It will often look like a steep hill with a bunch of ice. Remember this: All you have to do is take one step at a time and people along the way will be there to support you.
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