The Hardest Part of My Morning

Several years ago, my neurologist told me I needed to swim because of my dystonia. I soon discovered how right he was, and I’ve swum every day for a long time. Not only did swimming help my physical issues, but I fell in love with the water. I now call the pool my “happy place.”

However, there is an essential part of the routine I abhor—getting in the water. The water temperature is always going to be a cool—honestly, chilly water makes for the best swimming. I hate being cold, and I hate cold water. Once I start swimming, the water feels fantastic, but it’s never easy to get in the pool.

To be honest, I’ve swum so often that I’ve just accepted getting in chilly water as part of my daily routing. But it’s the hardest and most dreaded part of my day.

If I hate getting in the water that much, why bother? Well, I love swimming, swimming improves my overall health, swimming gives me an outlet for my stress, and I know that I’m going to feel better all day if I swim in the morning. What I’m saying is that the end result is worth the minor discomfort I face when I first get in the pool.

We all face discomfort in life. Granted, most all of our discomforts are far, far greater than getting in a chilly pool. We all know real struggle, real heartache, and real pain. But just like my getting in the pool every morning, the end result is worth the struggle. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor 4:16-17).

One day all our struggles will be worth it all. One day we will glimpse the Savior’s glorious face, and we’ll be thankful we got in and started moving.