The Finish Line

Overnight my digestive system must shut down.  It seems like I always feel better in the morning...with no growls or uncomfortable hungry feelings.  Since I was at a conference all day, I decided my best course of action was simply to skip lunch also.

It worked.  I didn't feel too terribly hungry today.  But when I got back to the hotel tonight and was heating my one daily serving in the lobby microwave, a lightheadedness swept over me.  I think I was ready to eat.

Although I didn't realize it at the time, my compatriots at this conference selected one of my favorite places to enjoy dinner...The Cheesecake Factory.

Just to put it in perspective, I decided to look up the nutritional information of the cheesecake that I think I may have ordered if it had been a different trip...a different time.  As I browsed their online menu, the dessert that caught my eye tonight was White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut.

Yes, I think that's exactly what I would've ordered.  Right after I finished my dinner.

The calories in this one decadent dessert?  1,222.  Approximately my amount of calories in a 5-day period...as an after dinner treat.

Now, I'm not condemning anyone.  In fact, in a few months when I'm back to see "you know who", I may just insist on stopping there.  I'm simply making a relevant comparison of calories.  Wow.

As it is, however, I'm sipping an ice water and trying to be content with just looking at the picture.  Sometimes it is overwhelming.

This whole day, actually, has been overwhelming.  Have you ever went to a conference and had so much good information thrust into your brain about topics in which you are passionate that you think your head may just explode?  Do you know that feeling of excitement tempered with a feeling of inadequacy that makes the challenges ahead of you seem thrilling yet insurmountable?

Yeah, it's been one of those days.  In fact, with ongoing seminary classes combined with this hunger project, it has been several of those months.  

But I saw a video tonight that put things in perspective.

You also have a Father who will come down out of the stands to hold you up when you think you can't go on, when you think you have to do it alone, when you want to just break down and cry.  

And He will help you make it to that finish line.

And He will help me make it to that finish line.