Treading the treadmill....

Treading the treadmill....

Yesterday, I had my treadmill serviced.  I have never done that before. It was not an option.  But it was sputtering, stopping, spilling black dust bunnies, generally not working well....I figured that it has gone somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 miles....since it was first assembled and started...with no oiling, maintenance other than vacuumed and dusted.. Most of the time someone was walking with it...sometimes, Don would turn it on, "warming it up" as he was getting ready to march to its pace...

So the serviceman, took it all apart, tightened it, cleaned out the guts and  the accumulated dust bunnies, reset the tread, straightened out the conveyer belts and then put it all back together.....ready for its next 10,000 miles....

It reminded me of the passage in Ecclesiastes 12:1- 14 where it talks about growing older...what is important.....my treadmill is growing older, as am I...I need a tune up every once In awhile, I sputter every once  in a while-churning in place, stopping to see where am I going, how far, what is the trail....not working well sometimes....not walking as well as I would like....getting warmed up....rather than the real deal ......

I have to look forward...moving toward what is really important....with my gaze looking at the right goal...with right motives, with right movement....treading.....forward, cleaned,...willing ...so all my dust bunnies won't be evil...but redeemed.....

Thank you for the things You show us In everyday life....to fear God and tread after Him....

New International Version (NIV)
12 Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;
5 when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
    and mourners go about the streets.
6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a]
    “Everything is meaningless!”
The Conclusion of the Matter

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

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