mandatory kit, pt3

several weeks ago, i was exploring thoughts around a mandatory kit. i was in the thick of a build-up to my main goal race of the year - one that went down a couple days ago and was as much of an adventure as i hoped it would be. this race understandably had some mandatory kit requirements and preparation considerations as it was less a trail running race and far more a mountain adventure race with a decent amount of self-sufficiency and graduate-level terrain navigation required.

so as the race day grew closer, my assessment of my mental and spiritual readiness started merging and blending with the physical readiness of tapering and gear packing. i enjoyed the ritual trial run gear check - counting fueling, electrolytes, packing supplies, all making sure it would fit in the pack, and of course picking out the race day fits. i was assembling my battle armor - physically and mentally.

which only logically brings me to ephesians 6*. paul lays out his own gear check metaphor for a spiritual armor and set of tools we are to use in life’s endurance race. the armor of god.

and my trail version for the circumnavigation a couple days ago actually tracks pretty well with paul’s. i’ll get practical and proverbial with this...

belt of truth - i wore a belt that held my electrolyte and fueling drink mix powders, staying salty and hydrated for the day’s effort one bottle at a time. i also carried and tapped dialed doses of truth when i was feeling depleted: truth about who i am, truth about who god is, consistent through the highs and lows of the course.

vest (kinda like a breastplate?) of righteousness - i wore a running vest, packed to the brim with the clothing layers and emergency gear in the back, water bladder and flasks, and all the sides and front pockets with fuel to keep feeding the engine. without all of those, i would be toast to say the least. wrapped around my lungs and my heart, the life source for the body, has to be holiness and righteousness, filled to fullness as paul would say, the breath in my lungs, the beating of my heart - my core must be rooted and grounded in love and a heavenly seating and source.

shoes of readiness and alertness - it goes without saying that i wore some trail-specific shoes for this little romp, and man they took a beating. the terrain was far more technical than i expected and the grip and protection of the shoes kept my foundation stable. a shoe style i’ve come to love and be comfortable in, and a fresh set ready to take on the miles. lacing up readiness felt like resting in the awareness that all i could do was take what the trail would give me, trust the training and preparation that brought me to the start line, and take the day one step at a time - looking out for goodness and faithfulness to both lead and follow me. there’s a pace that expects the good, trusts faithfulness, and has presence for noticing.

wind/rain shell - shield of faith - one of the pieces of gear stuffed in my back vest pouch was a wind shell layer. not knowing what the day would hold and weather quite variable in alpine/mountain terrains, it’s only smart to bring layering options. the shell, amongst other just-in-case pieces, are a hedging of protection in expecting the unexpected. faith has to be strongest when the circumstances become more inclement, when the conditions seem to be waring against me externally, or the doubts and lies bubbling up internally. faith in what’s true and strength outside myself is the protection against the elements. humility that what i’ll face is bigger than me, but i’m supported by someone stronger.

hat (helmet) of salvation - this particular endurance adventure included significant exposed sections of course, and as with the clothing layers, a head covering of some type was required in the race day kit. my helmet of salvation is the protection and deliverance of my thoughts. i’ll never hit the trail without acknowledging the fiercest muscle required for the effort is between my ears - and this day was no different. i believe god’s biggest partnership with us for redemption and deliverance is often in the battleground of the mindset, transforming our thoughts and minds, taking thoughts captive and planting holy ones, instilling the mind of christ. an ultra enduring journey to say the least.

trekking poles - sword of the spirt - i am the one on trail leaning into the poles. not everyone’s flavor, but i feel quite at home pole dancing, these tools becoming my extended appendages for balance, load shifting, and trail gliding. the spirit and the word similarly support and sustain forward progress - aimed to match the terrain, load bearing, balance promoting, and ensuring stability. with these i can go much further.

headlamp - light to my path - a required (and used) piece of gear for this race was my headlamp. there is something quite humbling about being slowed to a crawl navigating a boulder field by headlamp. truly only seeing one marker at a time and taking each “next-right-step,” alone and without any other light source around. not incorporated in paul’s official armor kit, but there’s a psalmist who’d likely throw it on the packing list, “your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.” sometimes the season turns dark unexpectedly, the pace slows, and only one step at a time is safely navigated. there’s a light that insures you’re still on the trail even when the destination is unclear.

so what does readiness from a mental and spiritual lens look like?

knowing i’ve controlled the controllables, done all i could do in the build up, did my best with the tools and knowledge i had, and trusted the training.

now the invitation: one step at a time and take what the trail gives me.

relentless forward progress.

"Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.

Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace. In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God..." - ephesians 6:10-18 tpt