I am training for a half marathon in mid-November. Most
days, I lace up my running shoes, grab my ipod, and head outside.
Lately, the steady doses of rain in Gainesville have made
this a bit difficult.
Yesterday it had been raining lightly most of the morning, so eventually I
just decided to embrace it. Not only did it continue to rain steadily, toward
the end of my run it decided to pour. I was thoroughly… soaked.
I love to run. It is a time to be alone with God and my
thoughts. As I ran, I thought about how many times I have sat inside because of
a little light rain, unwilling to embrace the drizzle.
The steady rain the past few days is a lot like my life
lately, a lot like life in general. We will always have steady rain: trials,
daily struggles… We can sit inside trying to wait it out and hide from it. Or,
we can embrace it, go outside, and run in the midst of it.
As I embraced the rain, I noticed that after a while it
became more bearable, even enjoyable. (Confession, I like to run in the rain!)
Then it began to pour, and since I was already wet, what harm was more rain?
Since I was used to the steady rain, when it poured, I was
more ready for it. Like the steady rain in our lives, embracing it prepares us
for the downpour… We have already embraced the challenges, which causes us to
depend on God, all the while running toward Christ.
I am thankful for the steady rain, the daily trials, and
even the downpours in my life. They serve to keep me dependent upon my Savior
and help me recognize my supreme need of Him always.
So I will continue to lace up my shoes, grab my ipod, and head
outside to run in the rain in sweet embrace and exhilaration. Join me, won’t
you?
