I lay face down on top of my sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and an old floral mattress.
My stomach groans with pain.
I am covered in sweat.
From the courtyard below, the joyful cries of children echo up in Spanish, and out of the Church drifts soft guitar music, signaling the congregation has entered a time of deep reverence for God.
The enticing scent of lunch cooked over a wood fire wafts up to the deck where I lay. I know there will be fresh papaya and watermelon.
This is the Race.
Life on the race is pulling yourself up by the grace and strength of God alone to love on God’s children, because not only is your own strength insufficient, you just don’t have any left to give at all.
Life on the race is being so very aware of the abundance of blessings that surround you, even when you’re writhing in pain, and exhausted on the floor.
Life on the race is delighting in the Lord ever more, regardless of circumstance.
I can’t help but praise the Lord for every moment. Even though my body aches and I barely slept last night, the goodness of God is unavoidable. It’s unshakable, it’s infallible, it’s everything I have ever wanted and SO MUCH MORE.
So I will sing his praises from this mattress on the floor. Facedown in pain, I will praise the Lord for who he is. No matter where I am, how I feel, what I’m doing, I can’t help but praise the Lord.
