After a weird ankle injury and the kids' sickness forced me to abandon my Couch to 5K running plan last fall, I've picked it back up again. I'm really getting addicted to this running thing.
You know, it's funny. There is so much about running that I love. I love the solitude that it brings. I love that I can't take kids with me, even if I need/feel like I have to. It forces me to be alone, which I need. I love the uninterrupted prayer time that it brings. I love the conversions I have with the Lord during that time. I love being outside, feeling the wind on me and seeing God's creation. I adore how I feel afterward - all jelly like with muscles tired and warm. (Girlie alert) I love the thought that I am going to start losing weight at some point. I think about all the clothes that I am going to be able to get back into.
It's more than that, though. I'm seeing my spiritual life through a running perspective. I am learning to draw so many correlations between running and my spiritual life. As far as running goes, I can learn about it, talk about it with people, read all about it, but as far as actually running, only I can do that. Only me. No matter if I run alone, or with 100 people, I am the only one that can run for myself. I think that way about my walk with Christ too.
I can go to church, have Godly friends, abstain from such and so, put on a great show, but it's really up to me what kind of walk I'm going to have. I'm the only one that can have my relationship with Christ. It's all up to me and me alone.
There's part of me that hates running too. It's hard. Each and every time I run, at some point, I'm yelling in my head at Robert (the guy that lives in my Ipod that tells me when to run and when to walk) that I don't want to do it anymore. I wonder if he fell asleep at his recording unit and forgot to tell me to stop running and walk. I hate that we live in a society that we even NEED to exercise. I hate that I live such a sedentary life and each such horrible food that this is even a necessity. I hate that running is becoming a hobby of mine and wish that eating chocolate and playing on the computer could be my hobby instead.
And I hate my spiritual walk sometimes too. It's hard. Really hard. That path is narrow, and so often times lonely and difficult. I so want to just live that lukewarm life, just doing enough to get by. I get worn down and beat up by the way that Jesus is constantly, and I do mean constantly, refining me. I get tired and discouraged. I get mad at God and question Him, wondering if He's truly gotten me all wrong.
I never, ever regret running. I feel so good afterwards. Those endorphins are cranking, my body feels good, and I know I doing good for me. I push on through the horrible part of running, in part because I know how good I'm going to feel afterwards.
I also get really cheesy sometimes, and picture my friends cheering me on, standing along the street, like I am a one woman parade. This makes me smile, and I run on, thinking of them there. I also picture me at the finish of my first 5K. And maybe something bigger after that. I picture how I'm going to go across that finish line, and what I'll do. I think about celebrating with the people that I want to run with me. That takes up a good 10 minutes or so.
That leads me to the obvious conclusion. I run this race, as Paul so beautifully put it, because of what lies at the end. I want to run well, to please my Father and show him my gratitude for what He did for me. I picture me face to face with Jesus, thanking Him for what He did for me. Instead of thanking him with my words and life, I'll finally be able to thank Him face to face. That keeps me going so much of the time.
And much like I so scarily imagine my friends lining the streets of my neighborhood, cheering my out of shape self on towards the next week of the Couch to 5K plan, I garner so much strength of those running alongside of me on the spiritual race too. Just like I read of those running marathons or just enjoying the torture, I mean pleasure, of a true running passion, and getting inspiration from them, I'm getting on with this spiritual walk with inspiration from those with me on that too.
I'm so thankful for the tangible people that God uses in my life to encourage me and cheer me on. And I love that they have no idea of what they are to me. I love that I get so much from them just because they are running their own race, with their eyes on their own prize. I am on their sidelines, praying for them, cheering them on, and they don't even know it. I trust God that they feel my prayers, and I'm so thankful for them. I'm crushingly thankful for those who are running hard. With passion. Both literally and figuratively.
That's why I've fallen in love with running.
You know, it's funny. There is so much about running that I love. I love the solitude that it brings. I love that I can't take kids with me, even if I need/feel like I have to. It forces me to be alone, which I need. I love the uninterrupted prayer time that it brings. I love the conversions I have with the Lord during that time. I love being outside, feeling the wind on me and seeing God's creation. I adore how I feel afterward - all jelly like with muscles tired and warm. (Girlie alert) I love the thought that I am going to start losing weight at some point. I think about all the clothes that I am going to be able to get back into.
It's more than that, though. I'm seeing my spiritual life through a running perspective. I am learning to draw so many correlations between running and my spiritual life. As far as running goes, I can learn about it, talk about it with people, read all about it, but as far as actually running, only I can do that. Only me. No matter if I run alone, or with 100 people, I am the only one that can run for myself. I think that way about my walk with Christ too.
I can go to church, have Godly friends, abstain from such and so, put on a great show, but it's really up to me what kind of walk I'm going to have. I'm the only one that can have my relationship with Christ. It's all up to me and me alone.
There's part of me that hates running too. It's hard. Each and every time I run, at some point, I'm yelling in my head at Robert (the guy that lives in my Ipod that tells me when to run and when to walk) that I don't want to do it anymore. I wonder if he fell asleep at his recording unit and forgot to tell me to stop running and walk. I hate that we live in a society that we even NEED to exercise. I hate that I live such a sedentary life and each such horrible food that this is even a necessity. I hate that running is becoming a hobby of mine and wish that eating chocolate and playing on the computer could be my hobby instead.
And I hate my spiritual walk sometimes too. It's hard. Really hard. That path is narrow, and so often times lonely and difficult. I so want to just live that lukewarm life, just doing enough to get by. I get worn down and beat up by the way that Jesus is constantly, and I do mean constantly, refining me. I get tired and discouraged. I get mad at God and question Him, wondering if He's truly gotten me all wrong.
I never, ever regret running. I feel so good afterwards. Those endorphins are cranking, my body feels good, and I know I doing good for me. I push on through the horrible part of running, in part because I know how good I'm going to feel afterwards.
I also get really cheesy sometimes, and picture my friends cheering me on, standing along the street, like I am a one woman parade. This makes me smile, and I run on, thinking of them there. I also picture me at the finish of my first 5K. And maybe something bigger after that. I picture how I'm going to go across that finish line, and what I'll do. I think about celebrating with the people that I want to run with me. That takes up a good 10 minutes or so.
That leads me to the obvious conclusion. I run this race, as Paul so beautifully put it, because of what lies at the end. I want to run well, to please my Father and show him my gratitude for what He did for me. I picture me face to face with Jesus, thanking Him for what He did for me. Instead of thanking him with my words and life, I'll finally be able to thank Him face to face. That keeps me going so much of the time.
And much like I so scarily imagine my friends lining the streets of my neighborhood, cheering my out of shape self on towards the next week of the Couch to 5K plan, I garner so much strength of those running alongside of me on the spiritual race too. Just like I read of those running marathons or just enjoying the torture, I mean pleasure, of a true running passion, and getting inspiration from them, I'm getting on with this spiritual walk with inspiration from those with me on that too.
I'm so thankful for the tangible people that God uses in my life to encourage me and cheer me on. And I love that they have no idea of what they are to me. I love that I get so much from them just because they are running their own race, with their eyes on their own prize. I am on their sidelines, praying for them, cheering them on, and they don't even know it. I trust God that they feel my prayers, and I'm so thankful for them. I'm crushingly thankful for those who are running hard. With passion. Both literally and figuratively.
That's why I've fallen in love with running.
8 comments:
I get the correlation to your walk with Christ and think it is wonderful. However, I will not be running, a tleast not for the next couple of weeks with this boot on. After that, maybe, but only if you promise to be in my head, cheering me, just like I know you do for my spirit!
Love it! And I'm cheering for you- always.
go amy go! you said it so well. thanks for that.
Great analogy!!
I love the way you wrote that. I think you should have your own column. And I am so proud of you for running. You motivate me, although I haven't exercised in over a week, when I hear that you are, it makes me want to more. I know what you mean about the time alone (away from the kids and with God). I love it too. I used to do it so much more often and I miss it. Let's do a 5K together! Wouldn't that be so much fun?
Oh, Amy, I love what you wrote! I wish this cyst would let me get out and run. That and my leaky bladder! Did I just say that on the www? Haha! Anyway, how challenging and encouraging. Thanks so much for just laying it all out there for me AND for always being so transparent.
good stuff girlfriend!
very challenging...(she says as she stuffs the last bite of that Krispy Kreme donut in her pie hole)..REALLY!
I'm so proud of you too. I can relate except for the actual running part. Does that count? So happy to be running the big race right beside you. Love you.
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