Negative Splitting

Beginnings are great. There's nothing like making a fresh start, buying a new pair of running shoes, breaking open a new notebook and set of fine-tipped pens. But too often I find that my enthusiasm is more for starting projects than for the projects themselves; buying shoes, planning routes, and listening to "Chariots of Fire" in preparation are all more exciting than taking that 6am run in February.

This year, I'm going to try taking things slow. No new gear, or grand plans. Just a commitment to being faithful, present, and attentive to the opportunities every day brings. We'll see what happens.

TRANSCRIPT: At the age of eight, Glenn Cunningham suffered terrible burns in a schoolhouse fire. Although his mother convinced the doctors not to amputate Glenn's legs, they said he would never walk again.

Ten years later, however, Glenn was a runner. Eventually he developed the technique of negative splitting: running the second half of every race faster than the first. With this method, the "Kansas Flyer" earned two Olympic medals and set the world record for the fastest mile.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. This New Year, let us start at a deliberate pace. Conserve energy as we set new habits, then pick up the momentum. Like the "Kansas Flyer," we can finish stronger than we start—in the high calling of our daily work.