What an adventure

Aside from the lack of sleep and the impossibility of getting any on the flight itself, today was quite a scary and yet blessed day.
Getting into a hired car was perhaps a mistake, though, not as big of a mistake as some may think. I think that the danger really is that they may rip you off, else, as I've learnt today, you have this scenario where the driver's greed overtakes his integrity and he tries to alter the agreement.

So I got dumped on a random road junction today. I was trying to flag for a cab when I finally realised that I'd be better off braving the public transportation and giving it a good shot.
I think I'm Glad that I decided to make my way to the nearest train station in the end. Taking the train was a lot easier... And cheaper than I had expected and so in no time I managed to get to my friend's house (not without first braving the insane squeeze on the trains).

Reaching her house I'm Glad that this meant that I reached only at a time when she was awake and not too early (they had to work today) and that I managed to save quite a bit of money.
The thrill and the scare has also placed me in a better mindset about China. I had initially wanted to just slack off and have a cushy touristy time here.
My adventure in the morning made me more interested to understand the way of life here. I spent more time observing people, observing the systems, taking more time to think about what really happens in Shanghai. I think I saw many sights and sides of it today, and that was something interesting for me.

All in all I thank God for how things turned out. He did not make it difficult for me to see the good in His plans (which involved also, my recklessness). I am thankful for how He has kept me safe and I think I want to respond by making sure that I do stay safe... Else I'd be throwing away this gift of His which really really, jump started my trip in a manner so good and fulfilling I would not ask for any better.

Running well is punching yourself

So I do not run aimlessly; I wdo not box as one xbeating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and ykeep it under control,2 lest after preaching to others zI myself should be disqualified.

27: I pummel my body and make it a slave 

I used to think that the running and boxing in these verses were two separate instances of physical activity analogies of Christian living. It was only yesterday when I think I came to a deeper understanding of what it means. 

It begins in 26: First we see the semi-colons. They tell us that what comes after is an elaboration or something of the same meaning as what is before. This already tells us that the boxing analogy is talking about the same thing as "not run[ning] aimlessly".

Next we see "I do not box as one beating the air". Now beating the air means missing your target, attempting to hit your opponent but missing. 

What is interesting is when we see 27 because it starts with the word "but", meaning that what will be said is the antithesis of what was said, namely, beating the air. So the meaning we get is that disciplining the body is somehow the opposite of beating the air. 

If we ask the question of "who is this opponent that Paul is boxing against?" we quickly realise that it must be referring to the body. And so he is saying that he does not run aimlessly because he hits his body hard and does not miss and brings it under his authority. 

Running well means... beating yourself up real good. Whenever your body protests against the things of God you give it a good smackdown. You pummel it to pulp and make it do God's bidding.

This smacks satisfyingly of radical Christian living. 

I love it.