I used to be in the habit of running,
or at least going for a long fast walk - daily.
For many years I did this with a baby in the stroller.
It was a calming, peaceful experience for both baby and me.
Now, no more strollers or baby.
Just me and my MP3 player.
And my thoughts...
So, the other day, I geared up.
It wasn't quite dark when I headed out the door, but 1/2 way through, it looked like this:
I was just telling a friend of mine who runs regularly about how running isn't always a good thing for me.
Most times, I am perfectly fine when I begin.
I will see boys riding bikes, and remember when my big boy used to do that.
Then I will feel sad, missing that era.
Or, I will see a woman pushing a stroller,
and as if it were yesterday, I can still feel the stroller handle on my hands.
I will pass a house where a friend used to live, and think of our kiddos playing,
and how we used to walk, and now strangers live there.
I may see a house in my neighborhood, still destroyed from Hurricane Katrina.
Or the many slabs where houses once stood.
And like a flood, those thoughts will creep in.
Or how I should be studying for some test.
Or helping the kids with homework.
Or the dishes in the sink, or the clothes in the dryer.
Or the clouds will roll in and night will fall,
outside and inside....
Of course, my friend said, "No, can't say I go through that. I just run."
Well, how do you not think during these runs, I asked????
She doesn't know.
And then I feel as if I must be the most emotional woman I know.
And then, ah ha! I remembered something that could help.
Instead of grabbing my MP3 player - with my wide array of songs
to go along with my wide array of emotions
I grabbed this.
I had read about these a few months ago. You can find them here.
I have the entire New Testament on here, and instead of my thoughts running with me,
I listen...
To the very words that override my own.
To truth. To what calms and reigns me back to where I should be.
To the Bread of Life, that feeds and nourishes - grounds me.
I can strengthen my body and mind and soul at the same time.
Instead of me, me, me,
it can be about Him, Him and Him -
just the way it should be....
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