Finding the Finish Line: Navigating the Race of Life Through Faith and Fitness

by Andrea Cladis

Overview

From memorable life events and challenges, to career decisions, failures and the drive for discernment, Finding the Finish Line is full of powerful anecdotal analogies for living passionately dedicated to Christ. Coupling tangible experience with tenacity in faith, Finding the Finish Line intuitively illustrates the enigmatic race for His everlasting grace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633571006
Publisher:	Crosslink Publishing
Publication date:	08/29/2017
Pages:	90
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Andrea Cladis is a Chicago native whose writing has been described as "emotive, brazen, seasoned with thinly veiled cynicism, and a pinch of sarcasm." She is an English teacher, poet, freelance writing consultant, and fitness professional. Her work has been published in The Greek Star, academic periodicals, and literary journals.

Read an Excerpt

Finding the Finish Line

Navigating the Race of Life Through Faith and Fitness

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By Andrea Cladis

CrossLink Publishing

Copyright © 2017 Andrea Cladis
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63357-100-6

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CHAPTER 1

PART I: PREPARATION FOR THE RACE

WAITING ON HIS TRUTH

Defining Diligence in Faith

The truth is that no matter what I have in this world, nothing can replace the joy or love, the tears or elation, the memories or connection, the respite or the excitement that comes from human interaction — from being vulnerable enough to experience community in action, and to welcome the spontaneity that produces fulfillment in life.

The pulsing issue of the past several years of my life has been balancing waiting on what I want in life while still seeking fulfillment in Christ. At twenty-five years old, in the midst of a daily litany of questioning and subsequent confusion, I realized just how much I had been struggling with what God had destined for me and how He was presently using me to fulfill His purpose for my life. According to my playbook and script for life, twenty-five years old ended up looking much different than I envisioned it would be. As I foresaw my life, prior to the defining decade of the 20s, I thought twenty-five meant finding love, getting married, completing my master's degree, moving to another state, having a well-paying job (preferably in writing), and serving others with my talents. Some of these things have come to fruition, but most of them remain wishful thinking — or as C.S. Lewis likes to say, "thoughtful wishing." I prefer the latter phrase. And instead of my fanciful list of wants for twenty-five, I'm twenty-eight now and currently not married, though I have discovered love, I have held various writing jobs (none that have paid well) and, after college, earned a teaching degree despite the holistic recognition that I never wanted to be a teacher! I have read more books than I can count. I have overcome anorexia. I have published writing in literary journals. I work as a high school English teacher, Sunday school teacher, and group fitness instructor. I became a licensed health coach. I have competed in triathlons. I am training for another marathon. I moved back home. I am still living in the same state. I quit my first teaching job, but continued to pursue that path for my life. It sounds like I am fulfilled; I am busy; my life is full, right? But regardless of my desire to keep moving forward in whatever capacity I can, I still feel utterly, shamefully lost in life. But, whom am I to blame for this feeling of dissatisfaction? Is selfish ambition and consistent planning a sin of unworthy cause or of lost faith? Am I a sinner for desiring that which I can't have? For standing akimbo and looking at life with a smarmy smirk on my face? Mayhap, I believe — yes. Yes. I am. We all are.

I plan, plan, plan, and things never work out the way I would like. So, it becomes necessary to step back, remove myself from selfish ways and ask, "What are the sacred plans He has for me?" As I contemplated my version of a contrived "twenty-five-year-old" reality, I have realized that my original "plan" (notice the short list) does not even mention Christ. And this is the junction wherein I encountered the first problem. My perspective growing up was one in which Christ was my friend, my redeemer; HE brought me joy; HE created me; HE saved me through grace. So, naturally I have been wondering why my original high-school generated vision of "twenty-five" does not even mention Christ. Was I under the assumption that by age twenty-five I would not need Him anymore? He was never planning to abandon me, but was I planning to abandon Him?

Reflecting on this reality now, I have grown to recognize it is absolutely imperative to realize that the most important thing in the consideration of goals, dreams, and visions at any age should first and foremost be improving upon our relationship with Christ. To want to know HIM more and to be doing everything we can do ensure that happens. What if my only intent for twenty-five was to be so enamored with Christ — with a trust so profound that a list need not be made? How incredible would that have been? And how incredible would it be if the next time someone asks where I would like to be in ten years, my simple, limpid response was, "Closer to Christ." Closer to Christ. Repeat that phrase. The simple phrase relieves stress, nullifies tension, soothes worry, and produces an overwhelming sense of calm. Thus, I believe that "closer to Christ" also translates to closer to where we would like to be in our heart and in our lives. As author Carol Kent aptly explains, "God created us with an overwhelming desire to soar. ... He designed us to be tremendously productive and to mount up with wings like eagles, realistically dreaming of what He can do with our potential."

Since I have had some unforeseen disappointments in life leaving me clouded by anxiety, fear, and unrest, I have been gifted with the time to come to know God in a way I never knew was possible. Patience is a difficult feat, especially for Type A people who equate hard work with success and consistently crave the most desirable outcomes. But what if God's success in my life is not the kind of success I envision? How can I be sure that what I do with my life is honoring and pleasing to Him? Is my work done to the glory of His name? Through serving others, I have come to embrace humility and, through giving of myself for others, I have come to receive palpable peace. Yes, peace in the present moment. Peace in the past. Peace for the future. Right now it absolutely feels as though I were playing the waiting game of life. I am riding the stationary bike to nowhere, but my legs are becoming stronger every day. I can't see the finish line, but I have found my stride. My grip has tightened. My endurance has increased; my thoughts have produced clarity, and God's not only pedaling beside me, but He is also in front of me and behind me. His ambient presence is known and, through this waiting period as with all others I have endured in life, He is using me towards growing in His purpose.

Remember: to wait, Biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, worry, fret, make demands, or take control. Nor is waiting inactivity. It is a sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief. To wait is to "rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7). So, delight yourself in God and He will bring rest to your soul. For God is at work in each of us, whether we know it or not, whether we want it or not.

"God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will."

Ephesians 1:11

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MAKE A PLAN FIT FOR CHRIST

Training Mind, Body, and Spirit

Refuge in the Unknown

In life we are uncertain of where this winding path may lead –
Long or short, wide or narrow,
It beckons us; we plead.

We cannot know what the next turn holds,
No matter how careful our plans –
God's story unfolds before us; the mystery lies in His hands.

Yet luckily for us, He gave us grace in provision –
The presence of those who take us by the hand,
To wipe a tear or quell a fear so alone we do not stand.
For whether long or short, curved or straight,
uncertainty still be our guide –
Content for each passing moment because His love
surrounds its every side.

The challenge of twenty-five years-old, or any age for that matter, is not simply to yearn for the things you think you should be doing or those tangible and intangible things you may desire to have, but to stay focused on God. In the same way that I stay focused on a fitness regimen and training plan every single day, I must work to keep my focus in sync with my heart's desire for Christ. Keep in mind: when you train, you're training for a race that you have yet to begin. The finish line of the race has not yet been drawn. You're building strength for the test with an outcome you can't fully control. Personally, if I can make the time to run, bike, swim, lift, eat, sleep, repeat ... I can most certainly make the time to kneel — and yes, I mean kneel — to pray. I am not saying that prayer cannot be done at any time or from anywhere, but a conscious effort to take the time to assume a reverent position should be part of every day. If you can stand up to run, you can kneel down to pray and spend time with God.

Making a plan fit for Christ means balancing the discipline of intentionality in faith with that of structure towards attaining purpose in life. Being fit for a race requires planning with careful attention to physical training, nutritional needs, continued education in training methods, practicing with a team or receiving coaching to improve technique, and creating ample time for rest and recovery. Likewise, being fit for Christ requires planning with careful attention to caring for your body in ways that honor God, regular prayer and conversation with God, active participation in your church community, wisely seeking counsel from other Christians, dedicated commitment to living out your faith through acts of service to others, spreading the Gospel, and daily acting in obedience to His will.

Consequently, through adapting to a lifestyle of fitness in your faith, you will not only be able to more clearly discern Christ's purpose for your life, but you will also develop stamina to stay the course, avoid temptations, openly accept grace, and bring others into the community of Christ. Maintaining high levels of both physical fitness and fitness in faith requires consistent effort and conscientious work.

But the journey to become closer to Christ is far worthier than any other experience you will have in your life. It is an all-encompassing, life-giving venture towards a finish line of redemptive love, promise, salvation, and eternal life.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain."

Hebrews 6:19

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BE VIBRANT

Living in the Present Moment

The blessing of good health, a deep connection to community, the power of selfless creativity, and learning to live in the present: what serving others as a fitness trainer has engendered within me.

Why it "fits" to be present

Recently, I commemorated a five-year anniversary since I first became a licensed, accredited group exercise instructor, and seven years since I first dabbled in the health and wellness industry by taking a leap of faith and becoming a certified Zumba fitness instructor.

It has been a unique journey for me that has taken interesting turns and led to unexpected success. It has been a time in my life — aside from everything else going on, from finishing schooling to taking on postgraduate degrees, and commencing full-time jobs — wherein I have learned, grown as a person, discovered strengths and self-confidence I never knew I had, and fully risked, for the first time in my life, the reward of true investment in something that mattered to me, without the need or concern for only pleasing others.

Becoming a fitness instructor has been the one thing I have done most consistently in terms of employment in my life and by far has been the work, even trumping working as a magazine columnist, that has brought the most satisfaction and gratitude to my life. However, if you had asked me ten years ago what I wanted to do with my life, teaching fitness was not even an idea of mine or a speck on the radar. And trust me, with that Type A personality, I had plans, goals, and avenues for my life set out to follow. Yet, as I preach in fitness classes — fostering a foundation of flexibility and stretching yourself outside of your comfort zone is what yields the greatest results. I suppose that applies to life, too. Be flexible. Be spunky. Be on point. Be fit! Get after it!

Beginning to Live Fit

My interest in fitness has grown throughout the course of my life, but first became a sincere passion of mine during college as I was desperately working to recover from an eating disorder that nearly claimed my life.

I grew up in an athletic family and spent much of my childhood as an athlete, so staying active has always been important to me. I competitively played tennis, soccer, softball, basketball, and I was a swimmer and dancer. I was never an elite athlete or a star player in any of the sports I chose, but I loved learning new skills, moving my body, and engaging my competitive nature in a healthy way by channeling that fire within me through sporting events, matches, and competitions.

Up until my freshman year of high school, I remained physically active and maintained a healthy body. It was something I never thought much about and therefore easily took for granted. However, as pressures mounted in high school ranging from changing family dynamics to the death of grandparents and pets along with overwhelming social, academic, personal, and peer pressures, I became withdrawn, anxious, and depressed. Unfortunately, this led to a severe eating disorder that negatively impacted much of my high school experience. As my body slowly deteriorated from lack of proper nourishment, I gradually became unable to participate in sports — and life in general — in the way I always had. I will never forget the day I was told I was no longer allowed to exercise or workout. I thought my life was over. I was benched from the tennis team, swim team, and even had to sit out from gym class. It was humiliating for me, but I was not strong enough to keep up anymore. Yet working out — something that had always been an outlet for me; a release for my stress and anxiety — was being stripped from me in hopes that my body could have time to catch up with itself and to heal.

I remember how much it hurt to walk up a flight of stairs, or how I could barely lift my backpack, or how many layers of clothing I would wear in desperate efforts to stay warm, or even how my swimsuit was loose on my once muscular. I remember clumps of hair falling out, the translucence of my skin, the sunken eye sockets on my face, and bloody gums with the constant seeping taste of iron in my mouth, and feeling of cotton constantly lining my throat. It was a struggle I will not ever forget, but through the pain I learned never again to take my health for granted. As I wrestled each day and my weight continually dwindled to a mere 60 pounds, I feared that I would never again be able to think clearly about things, that I would never be able to exercise, that I would never have the strength again to play sports, or to lace up my running shoes, or even to simply dance around the house.

As I bungled along into senior year, fearless prayer, devotion to faith, steadfast support from family, and counseling that I fought going to, I eventually had a change of attitude and developed a newfound desire to become healthy again — no matter what the cost. Once I was ready to embrace the arduous road to mental and physical recovery, I recognized that I had something to live for. The turning point for me was the ever powerful reminder that I had a Creator who made me in His image and He had not forsaken me. He had blessed me with life! I needed to honor that gift to glorify Him and know that just as my family never left my side through hardship, He would be there healing my hurt, ameliorating my pain, and guiding my steps. I primarily credit my sister, Stacey, for reminding me each and every day that God's love endures, protects, and is always, always worth living for. She was and remains to be the sheer embodiment of Christ in my life. I love her beyond words, and for her self-sacrificing, unconditional love that saved my life, I owe her my deepest gratitude.

Progressively Improving

During my first few years of college I still struggled periodically with my eating disorder, but was able to find self-confidence again, a sense of purpose, vitality, and the depth of knowing self-worth. During my junior year after reigniting my love of dance through Zumba fitness classes, I decided to acquire my official Zumba licensure. This was my first experience of turning passion into action, and it was memorable because it happened during my final year with my last surviving grandparent, my Greek grandmother, Yia-Yia. She had always encouraged my love of dance and education, and one of the fondest memories I have is that I picked her up on my way home from the all-day Zumba training I had attended in Chicago and spent an hour trying to explain "Zumba" to no avail. It's not quite like 'Zorba' Greek dancing, which she knew well, but it was dancing nonetheless! I remember her laughing and telling me it was "interesting" and that she thought I could "Zooombah" my way back to a physically healthier state. As always, Yia-Yia ended up being right about that and pretty much everything else in my life. I still miss her dearly.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Finding the Finish Line by Andrea Cladis. Copyright © 2017 Andrea Cladis. Excerpted by permission of CrossLink Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Preface

Part I Preparation for the Race

Waiting On his Truth-Defining Diligence in Faith 1

Make a Plan Fit for Christ-Training Mind, Body, Spirit 4

Be Vibrant-Living in the Present Moment 7

Stay Focused-Sheltered By the Under Armor of God 15

Part II Running Your Race

Race Day-Racing in Christ Alone 21

My Weariness Amazes Me - Thanking Mr. Bob Dylan 23

Sweat and Tears; Angst and Fears-Running the Race for Christ 25

Perseverance in Identity - Finding the Authentic Self 28

Part III Racing Towards Christ

One Foot in Front of the Other-Trusting he Will Carry You 33

Press Onward-Knowing the Prize is Worth Attaining 37

Endurance Matters-Assuring Provision Through Mercy 42

Fall On Your Faith-Believing Your Legs Will Not Falter 53

Part IV Facing the Finish

Growth in Failure - Purpose, Renewal & Relationship 57

Carrying the Cross - The Unbreakable Spirit of the Seamstress 60

Part V Finishing Strong

Perfection is a Fallacy-The Race is the Journey 69

You are Stronger Than You Think- Believe This! 73

Just. Do. It-Thanks, Nike 75