Isn't it incredible how music affects us? My playlist for running, so creatively entitled "Running", is a crazy mixture of anything that might possibly inspire me to keep moving my feet. And of course, I always play it on shuffle, because predictability would just be boring. One minute I may be listing to Eminem, while the next song could be Little Texas, followed by David Crowder. I can't neglect to mention the song that has undoubtedly played on every run for the past couple of weeks--Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. God just knew I needed that extra push, I suppose.
One night, several months ago, my husband and I were talking about a country song that was popular when we were in high school (which was long enough ago that I don't feel the need to specify here). This led to a 4-hour spontaneous activity, in which we began to search old country songs and artists, looking up videos, taking turns guessing each other's chosen songs. It is amazing how many memories it began to stir and the stories it brought up that we shared. None of these memories were ones we shared together, but the reminiscing had an almost addictive nostalgia about it.
Lately, when running, I have really begun to listen to and examine the lyrics of the songs that come up in my playlist. Maybe it gives me something to distract me, as my runs get increasingly tougher, I'm not sure. It is intriguing, though. For example, Lose Yourself (by Eminem...don't worry, it's not the explicit version), is probably a song that makes me want to work harder and run faster and keep going more than any other. I, for one, think Eminem is brilliant. He is gifted enough to do with words and a beat what few can. Yes, he seems to be misguided and lacks some qualities that I believe are important in life. However, in five minutes and twenty-two seconds, his music has the ability to create a sense of urgency in me that causes me to want to accomplish every great thing I ever set out to do. That's pretty incredible.
Currently, my running playlist has 89 songs that comprise 5 hours and 55 minutes of music. It's not because I ever plan on running for a consecutive 5 hours...ever. It's because I don't like monotony. I don't want to hear the same songs over and over again, just like I don't read the same books repetitively (except for the bible), and I usually don't watch the same movies again, especially if they have a twist or any sort of suspense. I already know what happens! It's why I don't run the same path every time. It gets boring. The other side of the coin proposes that by taking the same path more than once, it can allow us to measure growth. If I am constantly ready to make changes and move on to what's next, I may miss the opportunity to clearly see the ways I've improved so I can build on it. Or, maybe I need to see areas of weakness that need more work, before it's time to move forward. I'm becoming more open to taking the same path, in more ways than one, in order to better evaluate and reflect on what really needs to be accomplished so I can move on with confidence and a firm foundation.
Another great aspect of taking the same path is community. As I've begun to run "my trails" on a regular basis, I am beginning to meet other runners along the way and even see some familiar faces from time to time. It's a funny thing to be running and come across another person running. Even if you can't breathe and you want to die, when you see someone else running, there's a surge of supernatural strength and energy that instantly improves your form, your lung capacity and your ability to flash the biggest, cheesiest, most fake smile in the world. It's as if to say "Hey! I'm running and so are you. We're awesome!" I saw a guy on a bike one day last week and it was snowing huge snowflakes that were coming down so fast and in abundance, I could hardly see. This was a great opportunity for the cheese ball smile, because not only were we out there exercising, but we were doing it in the snow. Like Rocky. This camraderie that develops among people who have something in common is essential to abundant life. We need people who will 'run' with us, encourage us (if only by their presence and understanding), push and challenge us and most of all, simply remind us that we are not in it alone. This brings us to the greatest community of all...communing with Christ. And if I truly will 'lose myself' in Him, I will find life and gain Christ. Maybe that's not what Eminem was talking about...but I kind of like the interpretation that involves losing myself for a purpose that is eternal and not temporary.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him... (Philippians 3:7-9)
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)
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