Another Post on Running

I've run every day, usually about 50 minutes or so early in the morning, for over nine years now. I haven't missed a day since May 22, 2000, even on military duty, even in Nigeria, or Ukraine, or Bermuda, or Scotland, even on 9/11 ... I love it. I don't talk about it often, because it's better than something that needs to be talked about often. I don't do it for fitness. I don't really care about fitness enough to do something about it every day. I just like to run. I don't understand people who don't. We were made to run. We were not made to sit. In fact, sitting is a recent development in history. Jesus never sat on a chair. All this talk about wanting to be like Jesus and we sit and sit. We sit in church. Hmm? Maybe this should change. This must be why my clearest thoughts about Jesus come to me as I run in the morning and not as I sit in the afternoon. I often say, "I don't run far, but I make up for it by running slow." This is true most mornings. Not this morning. I know some people can't run, but we all have something physical and spiritual like it that pushes the quality of our day from survival to living. Run the race in such a way as to win the prize.   

The Power of Small Adjustments (or "Run, Forrest, Run!")

It was May 22, 2000 and I had just finished a Tres Dias weekend as a spiritual director. I had eaten too much and felt disgusting. I ran regularly since my high school track team days, but decided to make a small adjustment. Without fanfare, I decided to run once a day from this day on. It wasn't a big promise I made to myself or to God, just a small adjustment, and I've not missed a day in over 8 years. Sometimes the running gets serious and I train for marathons. Most of the time it's just a fun way of getting outside, even in blizzards, even in Africa! I know it's not for everyone, but for me it is a great blessing. It's OK that someday my streak will end. I'm in a little better shape physically, but a lot better shape mentally. My daily run feels like part of my devotions now. In ten years as a pastor, I think the power of small adjustments in life like this ranks near the top of the list of valuable things I've learned. Small changes for good are the secret ingredients of a changed life. What small adjustments can you make that may have a big impact on your life and the lives of those around you?

The Pursuit of Humility

A long time ago, a mentor encouraged me to "explore humility." I've spoken about this numerous times from the pulpit. It brings at least a smile from people, if not a laugh. I smile too. When I first heard the counsel, though, I misheard it. I thought he told me to "pursue humility." This mishearing fits me, eh? So, I began the task of "pursuing humility," but was grateful when my mentor briskly corrected me. Explore, John. Don't pursue. Yesterday, I began training again for a marathon. I ran about 8 miles at a faster than normal for me pace. It wiped me out. I could feel the hills like never before. I thought, as I trudged through my last mile, almost all uphill: "Now, this is the pursuit of humility!" I think anytime we are working hard and challenged, the Holy Spirit is able to use the challenge like the finest of artists uses the finest of paints. Difficulty is the substance with which God does His greatest work in our lives. Perhaps this is why the cross is the central symbol of Christian faith. After finishing my run yesterday I felt humbled; I understood reality and knew I needed all God is to me and has for me to navigate through it. This is humility: to know I need God. I felt it. I also felt great. So, with all due respect to my mentor, I think I'll keep on pursuing humility!