Running Revelations

One of the things I love about being a runner is just being by myself and clearing out my head.  No distractions from technology or work or kids or anybody! It's a selfish indulging act that helps me forge on and makes those uphill routes worthwhile.  I have my prayer time and run through my priority list for the day as the rhythm of my breathing gets me hypnotized.  It really allows me to open up my mind and listen to God's voice and have some good conversations with Him.  It's easier to let go of your pride and humble yourself when you aren't in the daily grind of trying to perform in your job or making sure your house and kids are in order.  I always ask Him, 'Lord, am I in your will today?' 'Is there anything that I am doing wrong or is there anything that I need to do in order to be in your will?'  I think my biggest fear in life is that I will fall outside the will of God and miss out on what he is trying to do for me and through me.  Sometimes my thoughts are led toward ideas about problems that I am trying to solve and I feel as if God is trying to help me figure things out as I am picking up my feet and just moving forward.  It's as if he is running with me.  Maybe I am not as alone as I thought. 


While I was running today I had a bold idea that I have thought about several times in the past week and it just kept popping up in my mind.  I thought about how God might be really wanting me to pursue this idea and it would definitely be something that would glorify Him so why don't I just do it.  As I ran through the woods and the trees were passing by just like the great ideas I realized that we, more often than not, do not choose that road less traveled because it is either hard or so bold that it would be a risk or draw attention to us.  Does that mean that we are almost always outside the will of God?  Interesting question.  That is my fear.  I think we are creatures of habit and we will take the easy way 9 times out of 10, and just keep running along and letting those trees, like God's little nudges, pass us by if we don't absolutely have to do it.  Like that Robert Frost poem when we come to the fork in the road do we take the road less traveled?  I think it takes a lot of conviction and a lot of courage.  That is where the hard part comes in - you have to run up that hill without stopping or even walking back down! 

I think I will continue to try and push myself to listen more to what God is trying to tell me and ask for the courage of my convictions.  And at the same time thank him for the good health that it allowing me to have a great run so that I can spend some time with Him.  I believe we all should strive to be not just 'good' Christians, but 'great' People and live with a bold purpose and by doing so, we will love one another more.  

Those are just my thoughts, anyway.