Running

 I used to like running.  It started almost a decade ago when my car broke down and I had to take the bus for work.  I had to leave at about 4 am to make it to the closest bus stop for the first in three buses I had to take.  The 40-45 minute trip by car would take hours!  You know I would leave at 4:15am and then I had to hustle for the bus.  Once I got the car fixed, I missed the running.  In the evenings I would carve out time for myself to walk.  One day, I asked myself, "Can you run?"  So I tried it.  I tried it in flip flops not far from my apartment.  I ran. I ran walked all the way back home.  The next day I got dressed to run and it was hard.  I had to learn to just do a slow jog.  Honestly, walking was faster but I told myself that I was doing it.

I have been running off and on for years.  When I go to the gym, it's to run on the treadmill.  But I have not been going often.  You see, I get into my head.  I love to sleep in.  It's one of my favorite things.  If sleeping in was a hobby, I would enter tournaments.  My husband tells me that working out early is better.  I know that he tells me truth but I lie to myself and tell myself that I will go later.  I won't.  I rationalize and make excuses.  Because even though I love running.  I hate getting up.  I have to fight myself to do what is right, regardless of how I feel... because I'm an adult (sometimes).

But those feelings get in the way of everything!  What to do about them?  I tried turning them off but you will emote and the feelings build.  Feelings should be expressed.  Funny enough, running helps with that (If only I can wake up).  In a race, or a bus stop, you aren't thinking about what you feel.  Stop and read that again.  You are thinking about getting to the end.  This brings me to Philippians 3:12-14:

"I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect.  But Christ has taken hold of me.  So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.  My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived.  But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.  I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven.  This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done."  

I may not always get up on time and I may not always make time to physically run but I find that it is more important to talk to God.  I like to bring Him all of my emotions and lay them out for Him.  This is what brings me peace.  And then, if there's time, I can go for a run... maybe.  Praise the Lord!!

 I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13 My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.