Since I returned home from training camp, I have been pretty sick…mostly coughing, sneezing, a little fever…BLAH!
The great part though is that I have only been sick physically and it hasn't disabled my spirit…"for in him we live and move and have our being…" Acts 17:28.
This morning I decided to go jogging…knowing it would help me feel better. I actually didn't wake up until 11:00, so I guess my body needed lots of rest. I put my earphones on and went out the door ready to enjoy some exercise on this beautiful, sunny day. I started by walking and then the walking turned into jogging and then the jogging turned into heavy breathing…so I decided to count my blessings as a way of pushing through "pain" of jogging (since it's not something I do very often). I thanked God for my healthy body, my lungs, my legs, my ability to even jog when there are so many people who are disabled. Then I looked around and thanked God for whatever I saw like cars, trees, shelter, roads, clean air, etc. Then those things made me think of so many other things that I am thankful for, which led to being thankful for Traning Camp and my squad and my team, my friends, my family, etc.
I had forgotten about the "pain" of jogging at this point…and then I saw some people walking their dogs, so I took out one of my earphones and said "How are y'all today?" but then put it back in and kept jogging. God prompted me to say more, like "thank you for the job you do" (they were wearing scrubs) or just tell them "God bless you today". But I didn't. I was provided with two other opportunities to tell someone that God loved them today, but again I didn't.
I was determined to finish out my 15 minute jog…so I continued praying and thanking God for all of the blessings I have in my life. See I started at a 15 mph speed sign, so I decided to finish at the 15 mph speed sign…and I did it! I jogged from start to finish, from beginning to end, and as I was approaching that sign, I promised God that I would finish what I started, just like He is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end"…I would complete the task!
I still hadn't shared God's love with anyone…so I promised that I would speak with the next people/person I see. I began declaring, "I am NOT afraid, I am NOT ashamed!" It was another 5 minutes or so before I saw people…and I had to laugh. I had the opportunity to share God's love with native English speaking people and when I was finally courageous, it's a group of Mexican men working on my neighbors pool. The reason that is funny to me is because when I approached them, they didn't seem to completely understand what I was saying. I talked to two men, shook their hands, introduced myself, and told them "God loves you today and God bless you in your work." I also asked what kind of work they do and wished them well. Then walked away not knowing how well they understood me, but hoping that the Jesus light in me was enough to spread some hope into their lives.
I find it interesting how God works…I could have spoken to a few other people who speak English and would have understood me, but when I finally did speak to someone, their native language was not my own. I didn't feel like I had a hard time communicating, and realized that it's going to be like that out on the field this next year. My prayer is that even though the words may not be understood, my actions and character from God, will relay the message of hope, joy, peace, and LOVE!
My jog with Jesus this morning was so much more than an opportunity to be physically active…it was an opportunity to be spiritually active and learn from my Father! 🙂
