Today was a pretty good day.  Besides the fact that I didn't have to use my AK...I was able to squeeze out a PR on my Split Jerk at 265lbs and though extremely ugly, made it count.  

It's been a little rough as of late making the time to sit in front of the ol' Dell 5500 when I've got 2 awesome kids awaiting my crowd favorite kangaroo-hop-down-the hallway stunt, and any new Jim Carey-like impersonations I can conjure up (since my "old silly faces" don't pack the punch they did when they were brand new...2 days ago).  I've also got a wife that needs a break from her crazy day (cue 2 toddlers and a newborn reference), several things going on at work, and a pretty hefty training schedule of nearly 2 times per day/6 days a week.  So yea, welcome to the insanity the Woolfenden household likes to refer to as "our blessings." 

I have every intention to begin writing on and referencing the principles I discussed in my last post, but after I got done with my workout today I couldn't help but feel in awe of the weight I feel both from this world and for this world.  That small amount of weight on my back is representative of the huge burden so many of us carry around on a daily basis.  Whether it be our own sin, hurt from our past, brokenness from loss, regrets from poor choices or whatever; its a load to carry.

One of the consistent threads you will see woven throughout scripture is the basic, yet powerful principle that Christ made himself the load-bearer for anything and everything we carry with us.  Who did he say he came to save?  The broken, the weary, the sick, the lame.  Why?  Because these are the ones who recognize they have a burden needing to be unloaded.  The ones who claim they are strong enough on their own don't see the need for a load-bearer. 

The funny thing is, we all fit this wrinkly, left-in-the-pocket, fresh-out-the-washer, 3-dollar bill.  If you're human....boom, you're broken, lost, weak, sick, lame, etc.  However, Jesus uses these terms because he's looking for those that are willing to look outside an ego-centric "inner strength" and realize their own "sickness", so when he calls they can instantly resonate with his message and take action; action that will lead them to the cross; the place that continues to bear the weight of our world if we let it.  If we do allow it, we are literally allowing Christ to bring light (i.e. truth, healing, grace, forgiveness, mercy, etc) to the areas of our lives filled with darkness (i.e. blindness, no direction, unanswered questions, lost hope, etc).  It's here you will find rest for your soul.  It's here you will find a home.  It's here you will no longer walk alone.  It's here you have someone offering to bear your burdens.  It's here you will finally put those burdens to death.

Always remember:  Just because we aren't willing or (respectfully speaking) "able" to give up our burdens, does not mean Christ isn't waiting to accept them.  Brokenness and sin is a process; laying down your burdens is a process...so why wait to begin this process?  If you don't know where to start, find someone who does.