Sunday, February 26, 2006

second nature

Sasha Cohen

I took the kids skating yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve been in…hmm…5 years? I was amazed at how it came right back, and in no time I was as good a skater as ever! (which in my case isn’t very good) But how easy it was to strap on those metal blades and hop on that slick ice and get to it. I can’t wait to go again. Next time out I’m going to attempt a triple lutz.

Skating, riding a bike, dancing, and all that—physical skills that we can train our bodies to do—isn't it amazing how they come right back somehow? Once we get the hang of it, it’s easy. Maybe it’s neural patterns that develop in our brain that just have to wake up and everything that was there last night is still there this morning. I wonder if the activities of our spiritual bodies are the same. I wonder if we learn to forgive if it becomes second nature to us. Or if we train ourselves to die to self, to become poor, to walk humbly, to be grateful or peaceable or kind or gentle or loyal or faithful. Do those patterns become a part of us forever? Is that part of living in this “way” Jesus talked about? Is that what he meant when he said it’s easy? Once we get the hang of it?

It would be a sick pun if it weren’t so beautiful, but Jesus did get the “hang” of godliness. And I think it was easy, even though painful, to just spend himself doing good and trusting God for the way it would turn out.

About the triple lutz—honestly, I doubt I will ever do one. On the other hand, I would be surprised if my daughter doesn’t someday. With only one lesson she’s already doing spins. The thing is it’s more important to her than it is to me. Which is why it’s worth it to her to spend her babysitting money and her time to get the hang of it.

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