An overcast sort of blustery day, and in my mind I think, what a great day to run the beach. So I did just that. I took off heading south in Garden City, the tide was way out and the sand was packed hard. Near perfect running conditions as far as sand goes. So off I go, music pumping in my ears and my body feeling light. I look off into the distance and I see a rock wall coming into view, I began to plan my circumvention of the wall then. Could I get over it, or around it. As I neared the wall I saw an opportunity to get around just at the waters edge. I was thinking at the time how easy this run felt, how fast I felt. It was not taking much effort at all. I was at 2.5 miles and felt like I could run for days. I continued on past the rocks and yet another more ominous wall came into view, one touting signs that said things like Danger. I could not get around this wall at the waters edge, and in the distance about 300 yards was a matching barricade of a wall. Of course I wondered what the danger was and while I was tempted to scale the wall and run to the other one, I decided to turn back toward my mom who was miles behind me walking her dog. I turned and started the run back, and within 10 steps I realized why the run south felt so light, so easy. I realized I was being pushed along by a southerly wind blowing about 8-10 miles per hour. Suddenly the run that mere moments earlier felt like I was surely the next Olympian (lol) felt like I was carrying a toddler on my back. The wind blowing directly into my face made breathing a bit challenging. My legs felt like they were made of bricks and my chest heaved deeply for enough air to press through. I looked into the distance and realized that I had about 2 1/2 miles to get back to where I started, where my mom was walking the dog. My mind suddenly took a dark turn, one that made my body feel heavier by the moment. I began to question my sanity going out onto a beach where there was obviously a storm brewing, and wondered why I didnt notice the wind at my back. I wanted to quit and walk the rest of the way back. I realized in that moment that this was a metaphor for life in so many ways. How often have I been running my race and when I faced the head winds of life, the hard times, the things that take my breath and sap my strength have I wanted to give up, to walk, throw in the towel. More times than I can count if I am being honest. And many times I have given up, right before the finish line, right before the blessing of the season I was in, running against those head winds, was about to unfold. Today, I focused on my mom, I told myself she is up there waiting for me, I am not going to stop. I lowered my head and plowed into the wind, every single step was a struggle, every pace was hard fought, it sucked, in every possible way. As I ran the scripture in Hebrews 12 came flying into my mind ... Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. I realized that running into the wind is a fitting analogy for what life can feel like. Its hard, for some people brutal. It is easy in the times when every single step is a struggle to take our eyes off the prize, to give up the race. But, like today, we can choose to embrace the race, challenge the wind, push the body, beat the mind into submission and run your race. As I began to pay attention to my adversary the wind, and figure out how to use it to my advantage, I realized that if I kept my head low enough, if I stayed in a posture of low headed focus and move through the wind my body sliced a space through my invisible nemesis and my run became a bit easier. I likened this to what we all face as we move through this life. I realized I have to know my limits, then I need to know how to bust right through them. Run the race God has laid out for me. There are certainly times when we get to enjoy the winds at our backs, but character is born out of facing the winds that threaten to strip us of the finish line, putting your head down an slicing right through them. I was exhausted, heaving for air, legs wanting to buckle by the time I reach my mom. But, I did not quit .. Run your race, whatever it is ... strong ....
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 03:37:59 +0000
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