this one is dedicated to them heartbroken lovers...

blue lagoon supplies one of my favourite workout songs: "break my stride." its steady and energetic beat encourages me to, um, maintain my stride.

aside from that, the song is your basic "you done me wrong and now i'm pretending my bitterness is resolve" schpiel. there was a time when it made quite a bit of sense to me. that is, i was quickly able to list the number of goals i hadn't met because i let other concerns sap my energy and focus. and i'd listen to this song, not in anger against those things - no one but me has control over what i pour myself into - but in hope that i'd love my goal enough to maintain my stride.

but before i make this my new take on life, i look at Jesus. you know, just to check. and there's lots of support in his example and teaching. luke 9, for example: "Jesus resolutely set out for jerusalem" and then told potential followers that "no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." no turning back, no turning back. eyes on the prize and all that.

so what did Jesus' straight-as-an-arrow path look like?
- teaching about sharing His message, neighbourly love, contemplation, prayer, shining, woe to the religious leaders, hardship and persecution, worry, wealth, repentance, radical generosity, heaven, celebration, forgiveness, reunion, the cost of following, reversal of poverty, and His impending death
- performing exorcisms, healings (four events, two of which were on the day of rest)
- crying over Jerusalem
- counselling humility, persistence, childlikeness, and poverty before God
- making friends with tax collectors
- visiting his friends
- praying alone and in groups

and then He entered jerusalem on a donkey and the passion plays take over. you probably skipped that list but here's the point:

there are so many times that He's on His way from point a to point b and someone interrupts: a woman touches Him, a blind man calls out. you know how Jesus responds? "ain't nothing gonna break my stride?" iiiiiiii don't think so! no, He lets the needs of others determine His agenda, trusting that genuine love cannot interfere with the ultimate goal.

my stride can be resolute while still being open to others. or, anyway, Jesus' was. and i'm of the mind that God's got the same thing in mind for me.

and another thing... do you think Jesus really cared if people "walked all over" Him? do you think He worried about boundaries and enabling? i wonder...


ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
nobody's gonna slow me down
oh no, i've got to keep on movin'

ain't nothin' gonna break my stride
i'm running and i won't touch ground
oh no, i've got to keep on movin'

watch the music video!