| | Well.... I had my first truly "aaammmmmaaaaazing" run of the summer.  It's been a struggle, as I've been out of shape, not having run as much as I am used to last semester, but here I am home, able to eat better and healthier food, able to increase my health and fitness and run for the joy God provides for me so richly. I do believe that He is most glorified when we are good stewards of the gifts He has given us and when we work diligently so that we may be able to perform out best and them AND enjoy them as best as we can. I struggled with this thought this semester, after having chosen to not run cross country for my senior year. Should I be running? Maybe I should neglect running, since I have no reason to run, and simply place my focus on my studies and people. Is running wrong? Why do people look at me as if I am doing something wrong going out for a 9 mile run if I am not running cross country? I shouldn't be allowed to have such joy--perhaps it's selfish. Ah, my thinking, at times, was skewed, skewed because of some convictions at TMC that people set as black and white, when they are actually gray. Yes, some very well might say that I was being selfish going on so many runs, but here at home, when I find the wind in my back, when I have that time of escape and rest away from everything, when I have my ipod on such encouraging music, or even nonsense, or no ipod at all, when I have such great time to think and pray, or even just time to not think at all... when my legs start moving and my heart starts beating, when I increase my speed and just go for it, when my legs feel like elastic and I can't help but smiling, at myself, at the Lord for the gift He's given for my blessed enjoyment, at the others that I pass.... I definitely believe the Lord is glorified!!!
Today's run felt good. I went out for my "Woodland favorite 9," and 8.5 mile loop that I love around Woodland. I had swam this morning and worked out with weights, so I was expecting to be somewhat heavy, but I actually felt springy and quick, for the first time this summer, after taking two weeks off the week before and the week of finals. At one point, some muscular man was running, but no no, no one would beat me.... (okay, okay... I suppose that's a bit prideful. ), so I ran ahead of him and kept a good pace. It was so fun--it felt like a race and reminded me of my racing days, then got me thinking about the marathon I have my eyes sat on in November. I certainly will miss cross country (the reasons for not running will have to wait for another entry), but there is no reason I cannot enter road races or a marathon or two... my competition does not have to end. And my hot pink Nike racing flats do not have to merely hang on a nail on my running wall--they can, no, they will be once again on my feet, little bobbles of some sort sticking out from my pom-pom socks.
I ran into my dad on my run! He was out on his 1.5 hour walk, finally done with school and meetings for the day, so that was an added blessing. Haha! We chatted for a bit, I offered him my ipod for music, but he let me keep it. I came in and finished my run about 8:50, just as it was starting to get dark.
Ah, praise God for the millions of blessings that He gives us daily, so many things that He gives us to enjoy that we don't deserve. Praise Him for gifts we can exercise to bring back glory to Him. And praise Him.. as we seek Him, He blesses us all the more. Praise, praise Him!
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| | Posted 5/24/2007 10:43 PM - 30 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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