The picture above would easily be overlooked by most. Who takes time to look at a haul bag sitting on a treadmill in a messy garage? Not many. What most people don’t know is this Dynamic Duo beat me down this morning.

No matter how much I do it, training is still hard. 40 to 50 pounds in a pack on my back while on a treadmill at an 8% grade doesn’t seem to get easier. This morning, I found myself wanting to quit 7 minutes into my workout.

My goal for today was an hour at an 8% grade with my haul bag full of climbing ropes. When I hit the start button, my spirits were high, but in 7 short minutes, my demeanor had totally changed. My daily goal and even my goal for July were hidden behind doubt, pain, and to be honest, laziness.

I knew that my mind needed to get away from the dark place that I found it. If I have told my girls once before or during a race, “You only have _____ minutes to suffer.” I’ve told them a thousand times. Suffering is no fun, but to reach goals, we must suffer.

1 Peter 5:10-11 ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to suffer this morning. At 60:04, when I dropped that bag off of my shoulders, it hit me: I almost quit 7 minutes in. If I had, I would have burned 500 or so less calories. I would have built no more endurance. Possibly worst of all, I would have started my day defeated.

My friend, if you are suffering in life, take joy in the fact that if you have a relationship with God the Father through God the Son, Jesus Christ, you will only suffer a little while. We are promised an eternity in His presence. Don’t quit 7 minutes in!

Because He Calls, Old Climbing Dad