Running With The Wind, or Against It?
March 8, 2010 by Bob Regnerus
Hi everyone, it’s Bob today.
I hope you all enjoyed the podcast with Bruce McNicol, co-author of Bo’s Cafe last week. If you didn’t have a chance to listen to this broadcast, I’d urge you to listen online here on the website, or download and listen to it on iTunes. Without question, it was one of the most impactful interviews we’ve done. We touched on a number of topics, but the central theme was grace, and what that looks like lived out. Bruce, Matt, and I all spoke about personal experiences where we’ve successfully, and unsuccessfully tried to live out grace in our lives as business owners.
I hope you’ve been impacted in some way by the things we’ve been sharing with you all lately. Sometime around the holidays, Matt and I just felt moved to stop trying to teach and preach, and just simply start sharing our lives with you and allow you to read and listen about real-life experiences – the good and the bad – and the journey that God has invited us into. As always, we welcome your comments here on the blog, or on our Christian Business Daily Facebook Fan Page, whether you agree or disagree, or simply just want to share your own experiences.
For me, I’m still stumbling my way through what my wife and I are calling our “new normal“. 12 months ago, things were changing, but they were certainly different than they were today – financially, spiritually, physically. I had a growing business, growing staff, growing status, growing confidence, and unlimited opportunity. On the surface, you could say I was doing pretty well.
Fast forward to the present, and our new normal is a struggling business, shrinking staff, shrinking status, shrinking confidence, and seemingly limited opportunity. A little over 5 months ago, I was in the hospital, completely burnt out, suffering from physical and emotional manifestations of stress and anxiety.
Looking back, it was certainly a low point, but more of a turning point. That started my road to caring more for myself. Physically, I started to exercise again, eat right, and get enough sleep. Emotionally, I started to deal with issues of confidence, pride, and happiness. Spiritually, I’ve been led away from a performance-based lifestyle – at home, at church, at work – basically all aspects of my life. God has been slowly and painfully chiseling away a lot of rough edges, and I’m honestly telling you it’s longer than I want, and more painful at times than I care to admit.
I figured September 28 was the lowest day I’d have to experience, but I was in for more. Many more very low days since then, and a very significant low day on January 28 of this year when I had to make the most dramatic and painful business decision of my life that dramatically affected many people that I dearly love.
Fortunately, Papa had a release for me, and that was a 5 day trip to Florida to visit my dad. It was both the worst time and best time for a trip. But I was sure that the trip was all part of a plan, and timed perfectly to take me out of the fire for a few days.
The trip was amazing in so many ways, both on a personal and spiritual level. A few weeks ago I shared an experience here on the blog where God showed me a picture of what spending time with him looked like. It was so cool. (If you didn’t read it, I invite you to – here’s the link).
There was also a very powerful experience I did not share with you yet, and I felt led to do that today. It was an experience for me that struck at many levels, and like many powerful experiences, it hit me physically, spiritually, and personally. It was an experience that spoke to me about my personal life, my relationships, my business, and my “walk with God”.
Let me set the scene. It was a crisp, 50 degree, sunny Florida Gulf day in early February. Warm by my standards, freezing by local standards. The “breeze” that day was stiff, and better characterized by terms like “wind” or “gusts”. There was a constant breeze of at least 10 MPH, with frequent gusts into the 30 MPH range. I’m on the beach stretching, ready for a run. The surf is crashing the beach and the waves are topped with white caps. The pelicans who are flying into the wind appear to be hovering, not getting anywhere until they turn and head the other direction. Since I’m running the beach, I’ve got a choice to run “up the beach” or run “down the beach” to start, and then will have to reverse my direction on my way back.
Because I’m just starting to run again after MANY years, I choose the wise path to run “up the beach” against the wind to start, and then have the wind with me as I head home down the beach.
Starting out, I begin to understand what the pelican was going through. As I attempted to run, I felt like that wind was not only sanding me up, but actually pushing me back and I wasn’t making much progress. I might as well have been running up a steep hill because it didn’t take more than 500 yards for my legs and my lungs to burn like fire. I slowed my pace from a jog to a fast walk, and decided to just face the winds at a walking pace for a couple miles. It was just no use fighting the wind, it was going to wear me out too soon.
So I trucked up the beach with the wind at my face for a good 2 miles, if not more. My mind wasn’t really too occupied at the moment. I think I was even listening to a podcast of Darin Hufford or Wayne Jacobsen at the time. But as I reached a point near the end of the beach, I sat down and just stared out into the ocean for 10 minutes. (Hey, I was quite winded even though it was a walking pace!) I don’t recall the details of what I was thinking or doing, to be honest.
Once I got my own wind back, I set to start running back down the beach. Boy, did I feel like Forrest Gump – “I was RUNNING!“. My pace was swift, and my stride was solid. I felt good. But because I am still working my way back into shape, and because I already walked about 2 miles, I started to get fatigued and winded. I had run about a 1/2 a mile at this point, and I figured that I might just walk a couple hundred yards and then start jogging again. As I was about to stop, a gust of wind came up from behind me and felt like it picked me up off my feet. As I was feeling light on my feet, I kept running. About a 1/2 mile later, I was starting to get really tired again, I figured I deserved to slow down and catch my breath.
Again, a swift “breeze” hit my back and pushed me again – so I kept running. Over that last mile, every couple hundred yards I’d think about stopping, yet each time would be swept up by the wind and carried further. Sooner than I imagined, I had reached the condo, and I had run the whole 2+ miles back without stopping. As I hunched over with my hands on my knees, watching the sweat bead off into the sand, I said to myself, “God, thank you for that wind. It really pushed me.”.
At that moment, as I was hunched over and enjoying the moment, a voice welled up from my heart and said, “Son, you’ve been running into the wind far too long. Wouldn’t you like to run with the wind at your back from now on?”
Whoa.
Boy did I know what Papa meant by that. It was a flood of emotion, and I just stood there stunned. In that moment, I was reminded of the struggles of the past 5 months, the disappointments, the unmet expectations over the years, the feelings of 1 step forward, 2 steps back – all of it. Right then and there, I just said, “Yes, I’m really tired of running against the wind. I want you to show me how to run with your wind at my back“.
It’s only been about a month, and I’m going to confess – I haven’t figured it out yet. I find myself falling back into old habits, old mindsets, and old routines. And I have to tell you it’s as if I was running smack into the wind. Yet, there have been a few surprises personally in our family that could only have been God, and didn’t have a single thing to do with me. It was all him – running with the wind at my back.
So as I reach the end of this post, I’d like to have a silver lining, a proverb, or a happy ending for you to tie it all together. But I don’t. I’m adjusting to a new routine within our family, opening up fresh revelations in regards to God, fighting constant struggles and trials with my business, and fighting with a loss of confidence and security I enjoyed for 39+ years.
Just yesterday, God spoke to me about my focus and my depth. I’m just trying to sort that out, because that’s a painful word that’s going to involve a lot more change, I think.
Peter writes in his letter, “In this life, you will have troubles”. Amen, Hell Yeah, and No Kidding. He was writing from experience folks, and I (and probably you too) can testify to that.
So as I work out what “running with the wind at my back” looks like for me, I’d love to hear from you: What does it mean to you to have the wind at your back? I want to hear your personal experiences and so would our readers. What has that looked like in your life? What about running against the wind? Ever done that?
I’d love for you to comment on the blog, Facebook, or via email.
Peace.
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Hey Bob Just read your letter. I’m 61 years old i’ve been n realestate for 30 year, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that thought I was in charge Boy was i wrong. It’s taken quit a while and a few lessons to find out Once i did i quit putting myself first I could go on and on about the changes in my life we recently redid a warehouse for self storage in North Carolina. I just want to encourge you to keep going Earl Finster.
Yea
For many years the quote, “let go let God” meant something different to me than it does in the present. In the past few weeks Ive heard several references to the wind esp the vision of “the four winds…” in scripture.
For me its time to set canvas into a new direction powered by the winds provided by the Lord taking us to new places … Great wa
I am reminded however, that kites, birds and planes fly against the wind to gain the lift for flight to new places. Perhas in these difficult and troubling times having the wind in our face gives us the opportunity to “fligh to new horizons” on the strength of adversity. Perhas what appears to be agianst us is to be used for us…..an opportunity rather than adversity.
Peace of the Lord be with you.
Andy Carlson
Hey Bob,
Thanks for the update – Iike yourself, I find my daily walk with the LORD both exhiliarating (running with the wind-where it seems effortless, aka grace) and
other times, falling back two steps and stumbling at times and then asking
myself … what was that all about?
However, my experience is that regardless of what state I’m in (either abasing or abouding), the LORD draws me to rejoice in either case. I understand that He’s
for me – no matter what. So I continue to trust Him to lead, guide and direct me
and keep me failing fast forward (if need be) – I believe that is the way He intended it, to remind us to ‘Practice His Presence’ – ala Brother Lawrence.
I think that as entrepreneurs, we do run against the wind a lot, kind of like as Christians we swim against the current. I think that this is a necessary part of growing as an entrepreneur (and prophetic) because it thickens our skin, makes us resilient, grows our patience and makes us strong. I think it serves a purpose — for a time.
But this last 8-12 months has changed that for so many Christians. He is calling us (more than ever before, I believe) to allow Him to be the ‘wind at our back’, to be our total and complete source of motivation. Where we are going and how we are going to get there (as entrepreneurs, business people, Christians in the marketplace, creative Christians) is changing.
I felt similar experiences last year…It was hard to struggle with the wind in my face.
I have been searching as to how to break through, and with prayer today I was blessed with a word from God.
2 Timothy 3: 1
But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days…
2 Timothy 3: 14
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become to be convinced of.
I wish I could say I found this myself, but it was on a Christian network broadcast…Jeff Saville was preaching, and he exhorted us to remember to go back to basics when the wind is in your face:
seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Seek God…when I was broken down physically and spiritually recently, I got a direct word from God… Go back to basics, pray, pray in my home and over my family, go back to what I learned when I first gave my life to God…
It’s awesome, I feel as if I am slowly turning with the wind at my back for a change.
My prayers and blessings are with you too,
Bob,
Like you the past few years were great – financially and personally. But like so many of us, when the good times roll around we take our eye of the prize. Instead of dedicating any and all success to God like David did (II Samuel), I assumed it was my reward. Truth is, pride took over and the rug was pulled from under me. It’s been almost a year since starting all over again but the spiritual journey has been more profound that the business start-up. This time around I try to listen to the Spirit on all decisions. It is perhaps the toughest to remember to consult Him every time.
The rewards are there. The business has cycled through the start-up costs without going into debt. I am not making nearly the money that we were used to but every month God provides enough to see us through. I believe He is taking my family to task on really trusting Him. There is no doubt about victory with this enterprise but this time it is all glory to Him because it is achieved by grace.
Wind from behind!
Michael
Great testimonies!! Keep em coming.
What a great piece about the wind at your back. I started a new company (less than a year) and have found myself discouraged with the “painfully slow” process for getting it off the ground. I understand the financial stress and have felt more heat lately with money. However, I try to stay encouraged in God’s Word, which is why I started the business in the first place. I read the following scripture and it helps me stay focused on what my priorities are…in fact, reading it now just made a rough day feel much better. Thanks for the great article and God Bless.
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:22-34 (King James Version)
Great article. Thanks for this. As far as running against the wind, I kept doing that for the past 6 or 7 months. Trying to fit into a crowd of people who were doing something that is not necessarily bad, but that doesn’t really leave a lasting change in anyone else’s life. A few weeks ago, I decided to stop trying to make my squared peg self fit into a circle hole. I started posting on my blog more frequently because I was speaking from my heart, my life and my passion: Jesus. It’s been scary. I still don’t know what I’m doing, but this article has helped me to see that its ok not to have it all together in the beginning. God works out the details as we go.
Bob,
I’ve been hanging on to this post for a week now – just couldn’t push the ‘delete’ button. Thanks for your honesty; why do we ‘try’ so hard when all we need to do is submit and obey?
“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” (Matthew 11:28-30)