Predawn Quiet

Predawn quiet. Just the morning and me and my God. Together. I run easy. To be honest, I run carefully on the icy road, just barely eight weeks out from minor surgeries on both legs. It feels so good to come back to this solitude and keen awareness of creation stirring in the morning. God allows me another morning on these legs. So I tell myself that if I grow tired later in the run, that I must look past the weariness to see what God has given me. I set my heart to be thankful. Here I am - I am running again. And, yes, tears come now. He has done so much for me. He overwhelms me daily with His gifts, His mercies. Thinking of this usually makes me cry.

My daughter Abbey returned to Paris, France yesterday. We were all sad to see her go, but she has things that need doing and a life to live. Keep living joyfully, Abbey, it blesses all of those around you. It was Abbey that got me running again. I was a bit too content to stay in “recovery” from my little leg operations. I needed her encouragement and company. She was God’s push on me to get moving. We need that sometimes.

This morning I ran a little over five miles. The sun tipped over the horizon on my last quarter mile. Dressed for a temperature in the teens, my hands were getting cold at -3F. Coming down the road in the new day winking sunlight, the house looked very good to me. I was thinking of a cup of hot coffee. God is so good to us. Think about it - we get Him and new morning light and crisp air bright and running free and hot steaming coffee. We are so blessed. What a good day.