December 15, 2009

He Runs Beside Me



This verse from the new testament often comes to mind while I am either running or thinking about running.  1 Corinthians 9:26-27.  Now, you many not be a bible reader, but everyone has a connection to scriptures from places all over our culture, as many of our sayings and deep thoughts quote scripture in part.  This particular verse, when I think about it, is an encouragement to keep my faith.  Some might assume it would be faith in myself, in that things will eventually go well with me, or faith in life, that it all will add up in the end.  For me faith is much more specific than that.  It is faith in a personal Being, who is involved in my daily life.  He uses personal experiences to talk to me, including running.
When I think of this time of year, when cold weather prevails and my bed feels like its Velcro to my body, when I am discouraged by my winter times or the hiccups in my plan to get out there and run when I would like, then this scripture speaks to literally running.
But of course, as in many things written, it isn't always about the literal subject.  If you are like me, running is representative to a lot in my life.  Have you ever ruun and felt that you were runing out your pain, your anger, your stress, your grief?  Within hardships, my failures, my triumphs, my tests,  the race represents more so my time here on earth.  This is what I would call hardcore meditation, because it is using much more than my heart, or just my mind to process.  Instead, my daily routine of actually carrying out this activity, specifically running, gives me a connection to this passage that me as a non-runner could only imagine with limited knowledge.
I run for far more than I used to.  I run because for me it is a form of meditation and worship to my Creator.  I have had some argue this point with me, as it is not a traditional sense of spirituality,.  Then anything could be considered sacred! But in this activity there is wisdom.  Only a runner could understand what "beating my body and making it my slave" really means.  It is the discipline, the payment made to reach a goal, or to be qualified for the "prize".  What rich meaning, and what a great thought to ponder.  Each step then becomes a type of cry, or prayer when I have no real words to use.  And I feel a sense of companionship beyond earthly, He runs beside me.
May your time on the road or trail bring you a meditative and peaceful place, a place to connect with your Creator, and qualify you to reach the prize you have set before you.

11 comments:

Kenley said...

Wow Chad,

Very Good Post. I agree with every word of it. In your post when you said I have had some argue this point with me, as it is not a traditional sense of spirituality, "Pray with out Ceasing". This, of course, does not mean to always have your head bowed and eyes closed, but to be in the spirit of Prayer always. I know there are some days were I don't even know how I made it with out the Lord's power and guidance. This post meant a lot to me. Thanks Chad.

DREW said...

Been spending quite some time going over this verse. Thanks for sharing it.

Chad said...

Wow thanks, Kenley and Drew. I went out on a 13 km run this morning with this song in my head:
"THis is No Ordinary Love" by Sade.
Funny, its not a hymn or anything but I feel it reflects my relationship with the Father. I find deeper yearnings amongst the mundane and temporal. Other people call it crazy!

pilotboywa said...

Thanks for sharing this. I totally agree. Most of the time my runs are very meditative, especially the long runs.

Chad said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chad said...

pilotboywa, and its not that I am curing cancer or figuring out life's mysteries, it is that I have mental space and time to churn out my day, to reflect on what is important and to exercise my spirit. I get some serious praying going on on my runs.
Thanks for the reflection!

Bob Redding said...

Hi Chad. I'm a new reader of your blog. Thanks for the verse to think about and the rest of your discussion. I too think a lot about spiritual things during my runs. I marvel in the creation and realize both my ability to succeed and my weakness compared to our powerful Creator.

I grabbed your RSS so I'll be reading your future posts.

Chad said...

Thanks so much, it was a bit of a risk for me to be so personal, but I have been blessed to hear from many who relate and who are also in this boat! My heart is filled!

Chad said...

And also thanks for the RSS feed, how exciting, Bob!

Anonymous said...

Just started running a few months ago and will be running my first Marathon in a couple of months and have been training hard so I really responded to this verse. I will carry this verse in my heart on all my runs from now on. Thanks for sharing.

Chad said...

Hey Anonymous
Greast to hear of your new running regime! A marathon is huge. Rest well and when needed thats for sure.