I Didn't Do a Thing

I've been working up my distance and pace on my bi-weekly jog. I'm up to a whopping 2 miles in our hilly neighborhood, and I'm trying to get it under 20 minutes. That's a whopping improvement over 3 weeks ago when the jog was shorter and I walked up the hills. Anyhow, it amazes me how many random thoughts babble through my mind while I jog. (By the way, how fast do you have to go before you get to start calling it a run?)

I usually start off thinking over the day, then I pray for about 20 seconds until a squirrel distracts me and I'm thinking about fall, acorns, and putting away the hose for the winter. Today's jog made me chuckle, though, because it was filled with tons of writing titles. Seriously, every few steps brought a new title to mind about some article or essay that should get written. Some were funny,some were serious, but the one that stuck came just as I was started a mild descent after a long climb.

My legs loosened, my pace quickened, and it all got easier. And I didn't do a thing to make it happen. Sure I had a choice to go jogging, but the terrain in my neighborhood is not optional. You jog, you get hills.

While I was jogging (clap for me...I didn't walk tonight!) up the monster hill at the end of my route I really couldn't think of anything beyond my next breath. But as I came over the crest and relief flooded my lungs, Hebrews 12:1 popped to 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.

I'd thought a lot about the parts talking about the "cloud of witnesses and throwing off the sin that entangles," but this most recent job gave me a fresh perspective on the "race marked out for us" section

I don't get to pick it.

There are hills, mountains, moguls, and mud pits on my racecourse and I don't get to plan their size, shape, or intensity.

What is up to me?

Perseverance. Participation. Throwing off sin with God's help.

The good thing about going uphill, even when it comes at the end of your run, is knowing that there will be another downhill. It may be hard now, but, given time, it will get easier and then you will feel on top of the world.

Persevere.

God uses this time to build history with us. Here, he says, let me help you up this hill, because when you're on top of the world you tend to forget about me.

I don't think I will ever enjoy jogging up hills but I do appreciate them and the role they play in my life.