Chronicles of Running: Week 3.1 (Trailblazing)

I love this running program, because it's reasonable and doable. I only have to manage to run three times a week. There was only one delay this week due to weather, so I was easily able to get my three days done. It continues to amaze me what God is teaching me and how He is opening my eyes to new truths (or refreshing old ones) through each run.

I set out for my first run on Monday. With each new week, the program increases the time you spend running, so being my third week, I was a little nervous and intimidated by the fact that it would get tougher. Thankfully, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I headed out on a different trail with sunshine on my face and not even a breeze in the air...just the wonderful, refreshing cool crispness that makes being near the mountains so glorious. Although I was very thankful for such a beautiful morning, I began to consider the rarity that perfect conditions, such as these, really were. As is life. Just like the weather, with most conditions in life we have no opportunity to contribute our desires or opinions about what should occur whatsoever. The obstacles and challenges in our daily lives tend to come up unannounced and most certainly unwelcome. Yet, we have no choice except to face them and deal with them the best we can. The conditions of our relationships are definitely fifty percent our responsibility, but we cannot (as much as we wish we could) determine how others act or react towards us. So many circumstances are truly beyond our *gasp* control.

As I have shared with numerous counseling clients in the past, it is usually helpful to focus on what is within our control, rather than what isn't. If we zero in on things about which we can do nothing, it ends in feelings of helplessness and frustration. However, when we choose to accept those things we can't control, focus on what we can do (and do it!), then much more positive results will most likely occur. (Sound familiar? The Serenity Prayer is such a simple, and yet so powerful, concept.)

If there is one thing on which I would most want to focus, when it comes to conditions within my control, it's the condition of my heart. This is something that is up to me, and I've seen ugliness that I didn't realize I had in me, as well as compassion beyond my understanding. The common thread is this: the more time I have spent in the Word and at the feet of Jesus, the more loving words and patient responses emerge. The less time I have spent meditating on His goodness and truth, the more short and on edge I am with everyone around me. If I find myself with a short fuse, I can almost always stop and ask myself if I've had my quiet time and prayed that day and know what is needed. The condition of my heart...my responsibility, God's ability to make it what it needs to be.

Accepting what I can't control is anything but easy. It requires being vulnerable and putting my faith and trust in something outside myself. During my Monday run, as I was on a new path, it was both fun and adventurous but also unfamiliar. I came to a point of decision and had a choice to make. The little lady on my app said "You are half-way." (which always seems like I should be way more than half-way :) So, I could turn around and go back the way I came, confident that I would know the way and not get lost...those of you who know me at all, know that is a huge feat. Or, I could keep going, blaze a new trail and choose not to take the safe, familiar path. I forged ahead and met a steep hill but also a great sense of accomplishment. I even ended up back at my starting point at the right time, and it worked. Even if it hadn't worked, I still think I want to be a person who takes risks and doesn't just stick to what's easy and safe all the time. Toward the end of my run, I even got a shot of adrenaline by having to jump across some gigantic cement cylinders because I could see where I wanted to be and it was the only way to get there. There is absolutely something to be said for being willing to do something new and different even when it's uncomfortable.