Evan McElrath

For about a year I have been fluctuating between 185-195 pounds. Which Is pretty good seeing how when I left for Scotland in October 2010 I was 215+. The problem is I go from being in decent shape to out of shape fairly easily. (This isn’t an excuse) From September to December I was doing pretty good about running regularly. Then On a friday night softball game I rolled my ankle pretty severely (probably sprained it) Then anytime I tried to run distance on it it killed. Once that started to clear up the tendonitis I get in my knee showed up for a month. That leads to now. Right now all my legs feel great, however I haven’t gotten back into the running habit. Which I need to because that gets my lungs expanded and works on my speed. When I am running regularly I am considerably faster than when I’m not. Which leads to some goals. Which i shall place here, because if I write them then maybe I’ll have to follow through some. Some of these I have already started putting into practice somewhat.

Goals:

More fruits and vegetables

less meat (not no meat. Just less)

Run regularly ( tonight I downloaded the couch to 5k app to try to kickstart again)

do some sort of other workout at least 3 times a week (I have p90x so maybe some of that)

No Fast Food (maybe that goes with the food stuff earlier)

Don’t get hurt (I don’t know how realistic this is with the way my legs treat me).

A few years ago I was only working as a Casual Longshoreman, and by working I mean every once in a while. It was a bad situation. It was in that time when I received a call to come fill in temporary at church. When I started back there, I made a conscious decision to make it really hard for them to let me go. Which in a way worked. I was given a few hours a week to work. Gradually I worked my way back to full time status. This isn’t about that though. This is about other things that happened because of that.

I’m going to list some things that I have started doing since I came back and then I’m going to talk about stuff after.

Since I came back I….

Started leading a High School small group

Went on my first mission trip ever (First AZ trip)

Went and lived in Scotland for 3 months

Co-led two trips to AZ

Started leading the HSM Tech team

Leading a mission trip to Poland this August

So what does all this stuff mean? I don’t know. My experiences keep getting gradually harder. It’s almost like I’m being prepared for something, but don’t know what yet. I was telling a friend this the other day, but sometimes I feel like Jonah on the boat. Key word being sometimes. These feelings have been around for a couple years. The storm came (economy troubles) and I’m on the boat. Do I need to be thrown off? Then at the same time I hear about others being rewarded for their long obedience in the same place and wonder am I being disobedient by not waiting it out regularly down there. That’s when I look back and realize a few things.

I probably would not have become good friends with a bunch of people I am friends with now. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go to Scotland, I wouldn’t have co-led two trips to AZ. I wouldn’t be leading a trip to Poland this summer. I wouldn’t be taking a group back to Scotland next year. I am in the place I am in now for a reason, even if it isn’t clear why yet. Which is hard for me because I want answers. I want to know where my life is headed. I hate that sometimes I feel like I’m going nowhere because I am not established in my career yet. (and I do get bummed out over that from time to time) I’m 25 and I’m not in my career yet. When I became a Casual I was 21 I thought “if I’m in by the time I’m 25 at least…” Now I’m hoping for 30. That’ll still get me 30 years and I can retire by 60. Using some Dave Ramsey tips.

However for now I am in the tension of things, but that’s not a bad thing. I’m being shaped for something, and can’t wait to find out what.