Spoiler Alert: longer than normal post.
I paid a price last night. The price? At 10:00 I was left writhing in agony as my left hamstring seized up and went into a violent cramp that lasted 5-10 minutes.
But I have no one to blame but myself. Here’s why: I decided to ride yesterday and even though I only rode 14 miles, it was a hard and quick ride. I pushed myself. To compound the issue it had been about a week since I last had a chance to ride due to my crazy schedule. My original plan was to ride, go home to shower, then celebrate a belated birthday meal at Texas Roadhouse (probably #1 in my eating book). But that changed while I rode when I received a “kind” word that neither of the other two of my meal cohorts wanted to venture to the town where TR is. So I suggested several alternatives and they accepted the one that had us staying in town. That gave me 2 hours before picking up the pizza, so I stayed at the office and did some work. It was cool yesterday (60s) so I didn’t think I had really broken a sweat that much, i.e. lost electrolytes. I was wrong so I FAILED TO EAT PROPERLY in those 2 hours. I had a recovery drink but I failed to replenish the electrolytes I found out later I had lost.
Hence, the seized hamstring. I was able to make it to my ManCave where I used some CBD cream and a massage gun. I also took some ibuprofen to calm the muscles, sat in my chair and massaged the muscle, then ate some peanut butter-filled pretzels (my go to snack) and drank a 32 oz Zero Gatorade. Fortunately, I was able to calm the muscle down, climb back in bed about 10:30 and sleep solid (like never moved) until my normal wake up time of 3:30.
Ten minutes of sheer agony followed by 20 minutes of doing what I should have done after the ride trying to alleviate that agony and refuel my empty body. All because I DIDN’T DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY to recover in the first place.
Two things stand out to me. One, the importance of taking time to eat (which I did not). We are admonished in the Scriptures to grow in our faith. The problem, according to the Hebrews writer is that the people weren’t growing and they “needed milk not solid food.” (Heb.5: 12-14). We are also told by Peter in I Peter 3: 2-3 to “long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Take away: eating is essential whether speaking physically or spiritually.
The second take away is the undeniable truth that there are consequences for failing to eat properly. Screen time, phones, gaming, and mindless watching of the tube are often the cause of the failure to properly “feed” on God’s Word. I failed to refuel properly after my ride, i.e. expending much-needed electrolytes. I paid the price. Failure to take time to slow down and have what I called an Encounter Time also brings consequences. You see…the one who fails to come apart will eventually come apart.
Take time to be alone with God. Take time to replenish your spirit. Come apart. Set time aside where you unwind and relax and listen. But remember to refuel as you do so.
The struggle to do what we know we should do is unending—spiritually, physically, you name it. We always have to experience the terrible consequences in order to learn, and sometimes even that doesn’t help. Thankfully, in the spiritual sense, God offers us the ointment of His mercy and the balm of His forgiveness.
Very true Pam. We never…NEVER…arrive. I’m glad God offers us His ointment any time it is needed.
I’m so sorry to hear that you had to go through such pain and discomfort, Bill, but I love how you made a powerful lesson out of your experience. May we never forget to replenish our souls with God’s Word on a regular basis and look to protect our physical health along with that. Hope today is a better one for you!
Blessings!
You would think I would learn my lesson after all these years. Guess I forgot. 🙂 But thanks for the kind words about the application. I agree with you about replenishment. And so far so good. Yay!!
Probably the most neglected “nutrition” and the most needed. Spiritual food for the soul. We can last at least 40 days without food, we can last a few days without water, we can hold our breath for a minute or two…
We can’t last a tick on a clock without God holding it all together.
Yet most (and I have been there), only seek to replenish when all else has failed. We have a buffet of food in front of us, an unending quantity of the purest high quality H20 available, we have 100% O2 ready to be breathed, yet we starve ourselves to the point of starvation, to the point of dehydration, to the point of asphyxiation…
Why???
Perhaps it is pride, perhaps disbelief, perhaps unhealed wounds, perhaps… perhaps it is we are the Prodigal and have found ourselves wallowing with the pigs looking for scraps when the Father is scanning the horizon for His child to return ready to offer all He has to give…
It never ceases to amaze me how we neglect what is so important to our souls. You put it so well Ryan. And why? That is a really good question. And you give a really good answer. thanks for the time to answer.
Sorry to hear about your hamstring. I’m not sure if this would help or not, but whenever I have a muscle cramp, I drink some pickle juice and it gets rip of the cramp very quickly.
I have been guilty so many times of watching a ball game or doing whatever is a waste of time, and telling God, I need to stop this and go read my Bible. I know at the end of time, none of these things matter, but Your word always matters. Squeezing in Bible time is not sitting down reading the Bible and talking with God. Nothing in life is more rewarding or important than my time with God, so why would I put anything else in front of that, I do not know. I am guilty of it at times, and it always make me feel bad. When I do spend the time to sit down and read the Bible, meditate on it, talk to God, with no time frame set, just basking in that moment, its the best time, and there is nothing else that can fill my soul like that time spent with God.
I will sometimes have pickles after I ride and combine it with peanut butter. Yeah, I know, but don’t knock it until you try it. 🙂 I have to make a concentrated time with my Bible or I will find a way out.
Oh, Pastor Bill! I am so sorry you went through this! The thoughts the Lord gave you because of it are just profound. So much truth in this post. I am so far behind in my blog reading, but I know God orchestrates that part of my life, too. He has demonstrated that to me multiple times, and today confirms it again. I see things and read them when He sees that it is time for me to. This fed my soul this morning. Thank you.
Thx Cheryl for caring. But like I said, it was my own fault. But as you know, God often uses everyday situations to teach us. Thx for reading