ali's Corner. [The Joy Of Running]

I never thought I'd say this but

"I'm a runner."

And I see God while running

all of the time.

Today I ran a 5K (3.1 miles)

in downtown Indy.

I see Him, first of all,

in His creation.

Painters, photographers,

and artists of all kinds

have been trying to capture

His glory for some time now.

I see Him in the faces

of the other runners passing by

and I hear His words in their

heavy breaths saying

"good job, you can do it."

I see Him in my friend who runs

with me, motioning for me to catch

up with her when she knows I can,

and other times, slowing down and

waiting for me to catch up when she

knows I can't.

I see running as life itself.

All of the runners today

were on the same course,

"life."

People pass you by,

some encourage you with words,

others just run next to you

so you know that they are there.

If my body gets tired,

and my mind is telling me to walk,

I pray.

I tell God that I know

all I have to do is

keeping running.

And I trust Him to keep my heart beating,

my lungs breathing,

and quite frankly,

my stomach from throwing up,

or getting light-headed

and passing out.

I put all of my trust in Him.

And it wills my legs to keep moving.

Then, I am suddenly thankful

for the ability God gave me to run.

Two legs that work,

eyes that can see His creation,

ears that can hear the praise songs

coming out of my iPod,

and two hands that can praise Him.

I am already blessed beyond measure.

It's then I know He will get me to the end

One step at a time.

And I see Him at the finish line.

He is at the end of all of our lives.

We will all face Him one day.

Whether we choose to love Him or not.

Today it was 30 degrees.

It was snowing and my lungs were burning.

I'd ran a 10:35 mile pace for 2.8 miles.

The best mile time I've ever had for

a 5K race.

I only had the last straight stretch left.

And I could see the finish line.

My step picked up.

I began to run faster.

I could feel my heart hitting

the inside of my chest,

my stomach beginning to feel queazy

and saying "uncle."

I couldn't feel my toes.

Honestly?

I didn't think I would make it.

I thought I was either going

to have to stop and walk,

or I would collapse.

So I closed my eyes,

and listened to the sweet words

of Gungor, saying,

"Here I am Lord,

all I am Lord,

I am Yours."

Suddenly I wasn't running anymore.

I was being carried across the finish line.

Eyes closed,

and heart completely abandoned.

I finished with my best 5K time ever.

My goal was 35 minutes.

And I finished in less than 33.