Dreaming of Running

Somewhere between intending to run and the running itself, there falls an interval when I am but dreaming of running. This interval varies in space of time. Sometimes an ever so brief daydream, and I must quickly push aside my reluctance and flee out the door. And other times the dreaming is days on days of waiting and watching, an extended season brought on by sickness or schedule or what-have-you. And then the endless days have passed by, and the dreaming is gone, and the trail begins to present itself again to my heart. Here I am visualizing the trail and I am running on it; alive and breathing deep, ascending the hills and blasting done the trails. Yes, running!

Well, my lovely wife asked me the other day when I would take up running again. I’d been purposely careful about when to restart because I had relapsed just a few weeks ago when I tried to jump back into it too quickly. I had already thought this all through. “5 or 6 am Monday morning”, I said. So, that’s it then. That’s what I’m planning. A few miles to get me back in the saddle. Just enough to toss my heart in heaven’s high praise and God’s glory, just enough to fill me with laughter and joy and purposed effort. If you’ve been on some self-imposed hiatus from the trails, this might be your time to jump too. Come on! Find a trail and sing a song. Carry a prayer as you weave along some forest path watching for the sunrise. Lord willing, I’ll be out there. Oh, friend, get out there and put your heart right close to God’s own beauty. Let’s run our dreams into the reality, and run smack into the wonder of God. Oh, let His greatness overwhelm you as you whisper to Him in the rising light of day. I won’t let a daydream have all the fun. Let’s go running.