A Good Stretch

Stretching is one of those things that are good for us. Before exercising we stretch so that our muscles are loosened. The purpose is so that we don’t get hurt while exercising.

During a baseball game there is the seven inning stretch. The fans get up out of their seats and stretch. In case you’re curious this tradition started with President Taft in 1910. Being a heavy man and sitting in a small wooden stadium seat was not a good combination. He got up to stretch his legs. Everyone in the stadium thought he was leaving so they got up also out of respect. The rest is history.

Sometimes when my back stiffens nothing feels better than stretching my it out. It cracks a bit but that makes it feel great. So stretching is a good thing, right?

Then why is it when God stretches us we give Him a hard time?

In about a month I’m going to be part of a team of teachers. We’re teaching a class over a period of a couple of days. Preparing for this class is stretching me. God is doing this and it’s a good thing. It doesn’t always feel that way. I have no trouble speaking in front of people. I love meeting new people and am very outgoing. But put a notebook in front of me and place me in front of a class of people . . . well let the stretching begin.

Stretching when God does it is not always a comfortable feeling. It may be a bit scary or a lot scary. The bottom line is that it’s good for our muscles. It prevents us from getting cramped. So Lord, go ahead and stretch me, but remind me when I start to complain how good it is for me.

© Nadine Z. 2007