Brace yourself. Here comes one of the most intimately honest
posts I’ve ever published on this site.
OK, here goes.
Running takes both body and soul, especially if we aim to
sustain the effort long-term. Going the distance requires everything we’ve got –
and maybe much more.
My faith is a big part of that. In fact, it’s more central
to my running than anything I eat or whatever I lace onto my feet. My faith far
exceeds any training I do or long-distance races I finish, when it comes to
sustaining my steps.
And the smile of God motivates me far more than any medals I
might receive (although I sure enjoy those, like any runner). One of my
favorite Bible verses talks about this:
May the Lord bless you
and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious
to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give
you his peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, NLT)
I think God delights in our private times together, when He
has my full attention. That can be a personal challenge for me, but it’s always
worth the extra effort to focus. So here it is.
I’m skipping church
today. I’m going to run instead, and I am sure God is going with me.
I love church. Honestly, I do. I always have – even since I
was a kid. And for decades, I’d be there pretty much every time the doors were
open. I know that’s sort of a hackneyed expression. But it’s true.
That hasn’t changed.
But maybe I have.
My faith isn’t any less real or important to me. In fact, I think it has grown much deeper and stronger. It’s what
keeps me going. God is personal, and I couldn’t … and wouldn’t live without
Him.
I guess I have discovered that sometimes I simply have to
shut everything out and find soul-rest in solitude – just me and the One who
makes real life happen.
The places where that comes about definitely vary from person to person.
I get that. It may be found on a quiet shoreline, under the
leafy shelter of a quiet wooded trail, or along the shoulder of a busy highway.
For me, today I find my sacred spot in a crowded gym, with
headphones piping praise and worship music (and even Bible teaching) into my soul. I’m skipping church
and forgoing a sweet trail race I had considered doing. It’s what needs
to happen today.
So why don’t I just
trot off to church and run a few miles later in the day?
This is one of those days when I simply am not fit for
congregational company. Our church has nice people (even if not as overtly
friendly as in any church we’ve ever
attended). The music is nice, and the teaching is tremendous.
Today I have an MS-migraine. (Migraines with multiple
sclerosis can be particularly daunting. It’s easy to become something of a
hermit when these strike.) And I’ve been running circles around migraines for
much of the past week. This course is getting a little old, as you might
imagine.
Although I am a very social person, I can’t muster the emotional
energy today to go out and make nice in public, especially in a gathering where
it takes considerable extra oomph.
I’m soul-tired today.
I’m hoping to stomp and sweat some of the agony away and
draw near to the One who refreshes my soul.
Maybe next week, I’ll plunk myself into the pew. But for
today, God is meeting me for some one-on-one time on the treadmill. Because
sacred spots can be surprising. And God surely smiles when we step out of our
schedules to spend time alone with Him.
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