Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
I did not eat sour cream when I was a child. It was not that I didn’t like it, I never tried it. Anything that had sour in the title was not going to pass these lips. I remember my dad trying to get us to lick lemons at a restaurant one night. My brother would do it, but not me, give me sweet any day!
My brother was also the athlete, playing tennis and running. Not me. It all seemed too hard, too strenuous, too sweaty. The idea of running did not enter my head at all, much less the concept of running with endurance. Sour and sweaty were not for me, I lived the sweet life.
And the safe life. And the easy way out life. Until we started working out at the gym. It was a New Year’s Resolution, to get in shape. The very term, working out, proves I was right, it is hard and sweaty and just plain work! Or it was when I started. Surprisingly I adjusted to the work out quickly. I enjoyed going, hardly got sweaty at all and really looked forward to the massage chairs at the end of the workout. I was having a great time, but not necessarily seeing a lot of change or progress on my ultimate goal. I was still living the sweet life.
For working out to work, you have to sweat a little. You have to run with endurance. You have to add weights or reps or something to the routine to continue getting stronger, fitter, faster. It has to hurt a bit, stress you beyond what is comfortable, make you sweat if you want to do more than enjoy the time. I believe the gym phrase is No Pain No Gain. My soft, cushy life had to change.
I don’t think Jesus ever had to work out, most likely he walked everywhere he went, but if he ever did hit the gym, he would not have shied away from getting sweaty. We are told that for the joy set before him he endured the cross. There was nothing soft, sweet or cushy about the cross. It hurt. It was agony and Jesus went willingly, not for himself but for us. His ultimate goal was to offer salvation to the whole world and it cost him everything. Nothing sweet about crucifixion, Jesus had his sight set on what was to come.
As a person who claims to love and follow Jesus, I am embarrassed to admit how much comfort and ease rule my life. God has blessed me way beyond what I could have imagined as a young, non-sour cream eating child. I have lived the sweet life, and I am grateful, but I wonder . . . what if I would have tried sour-cream earlier? What if I had decided to run the race, or run at all, earlier in life?
The example of Jesus challenges us to try hard things, to run, to stand in the face of opposition, to show love to the unloveable, to risk reaching out, to get sweaty and be tired for the sake of someone else. I can’t go back, I can’t undo the easy life I have lived, but I can make new decisions for the future.
Tonight I am sore. I added weight to every machine during my morning workout. It was hard, but I am hopeful. I am also tired! I cannot run with endurance, but I am attempting to row with endurance, no matter how sweaty I get. And I am pondering and praying about what hard things Jesus may be calling me to try.
I’m going to share with you a sweet way to eat sour cream. It reminds me that even things that seem hard or sour can ultimately be sweet, working toward the ultimate goal of drawing us closer to God and transforming us into the image of Jesus.
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups Gold Medal Flour
- 1 cup sour cream
Filling/topping: 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup chopped nuts
Mix together all ingredients, stirring well so that batter is smooth. Can be done by hand or with stand mixer.
Grease 2 loaf pans. Spread 1/4 of the batter in the bottom of each loaf pan. Spread a solid layer of filling/topping mixture over each loaf. Spread 1/4 of the batter over each loaf, then top with another layer of filling/topping mixture. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350* or until browned and set.
This is one of my mom’s favorite recipes. She has been known to send loaves through the mail to friends and family, as well as delivering loaves in person to anyone who needs a lift. When I was young she called it Cinnamon Coffee Cake so I would eat it! She is a real life Julieta Madrigal, healing people with food.