Tonight after Curt got home from work tonight and my two travelers got home from DC, I made myself go for a run. MADE is the operative word. Because, frankly, I didn't feel like running. I had taken a five day break while I was gone and just was feeling lazy and complacent about running. I didn't want to go and I had moments where I thought, "I'm just not going to go. What difference does it even make if I miss just one more day?" And yet, my complacency was an indicator that I needed to move before things got any worse. One more day stretches to two more and three more, and suddenly I am back where I started-- I know the drill.
And so, I went while Curt took the baby and picked up Chinese takeout. (Hey, I am just not back in full homemaking mode after my trip.) The first part of the run was plain old painful. I was stiff and could tell I have already lost ground in just five short days. I have written (I think) about the one stretch of road I face every single time where I just want to stop. This never changes-- it is always on this one stretch. Every. Single. Time. I would think that the more I ran, the less problematic this would be. And yet, I still struggle. You can imagine what a struggle it was today after my break.
But the great part about struggling through this long stretch is that as I get to the downhill part, I hit my stride and start feeling (however briefly) that I could run for miles and miles. Like I am Rocky when he reaches the top of the steps. It is the reward for hanging in there through the tough part. I love that part of the run. Today during that part it began to rain-- hard. And my shoe came untied. And yet I ran, feeling incredible. Listening to Tina Turner sing, "You're simply the best" on my Ipod. Yeah, I was thinking, I am the best runner around (there was no one around.) And then-- amazingly enough-- the song from one of the Rocky movies, "There's No Easy Way Out" came on. And I was the champion, running in the rain, struggling against all the odds to finish the race.
And then it really started raining hard-- the bottom dropped out and I knew I better tie my shoe lest I trip and fall and break up this happy moment of runner's bliss. So, I headed for home and shelter and a shower. But I am glad I went running and I can't wait to go again tomorrow. And I feel like I passed some test.
I won't insult your intelligence by drawing dramatic parallels between my running story and your spiritual walk and other various elements of this life we are all living-- I will trust you to do that for yourself.
2 comments:
Persistence is something I've always struggled with, especially in the areas of losing weight and parenting. You think I would have learned by now that those two (especially!) usually do NOT bring forth fruit immediately, or even after a little while. It is only after constant prayer and faithfulness, every single day, that we will see rewards! Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement to keep on pressing on!
This was priceless! You had Erin, Elisabeth, and myself laughing to beat the band! LOL Sometimes, when I'm FINALLY coming to the end of something or I've accomplished something that took a lot of stamina and persistence, I hear music in my head...you know, like the music that plays at the end of a movie...the 'climactic' kind...before the credits roll. Yup...I'm kinda weird!
Glad you had a good time, and glad you're back. I've missed you!
We've been extremely busy too, and we're off again tomorrow...but I'll be checking back to read about your trip!
Take care,
Amy
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