I couldn't help but 'like' and laugh at her status, as I too enjoy the ridiculous cheerleaders that can't wait for the new year to "Bring it!" to them.
When I read her status, naturally, I began getting lost in my thoughts and thinking to myself, it's not what the new year brings to you, but what you bring to the new year. Maybe its to be debt free, quit smoking, or the classic resolution lose weight and stay in shape. Maybe its to start smoking to lose that weight. Maybe its to eat more fruit...snacks. Maybe you vowed not to drink orange juice after brushing your teeth worst, or to stop ignoring the auto correct on your cellphone or to talk in a robot voice at all times. Whatever your goal or resolution is, it's really about what you put into it.
The scripture 1 Corinthians 9:24 comes to mind "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it."
I finally began running again last week for the first time this year since October of 2012 and sweet baby Jesus could I tell that it'd been awhile since I'd hit the pavement. For the first mile and a half I was praying for the pain in my sides which what felt like two midgets poking me with knives to stop, gasping for more air in my lungs, all the while not wearing the best sports bra which was causing me to get slapped in the jugular with well, you know the jugs. I wondered why I have in the past and any human being would suffer and put themselves through such torment Any long distance runner will tell you, they have all had the same thoughts and have had bad runs, and if they tell you they haven't... NEWSFLASH!: They're lying.
My runner peeps- you know what I mean by 'bad runs'. The ones where it's so hot outside you feel as if your smothering yourself and the term 'hot breath' just found a new meaning, or its freezing outside and your nose decides it wants to run with you and by the end of your run snot is frozen to your upper lip, you can't feel your face, and you swear your eyeballs are frozen. Or you forgot to put your Body Glide on and you're practically about to start a fire between your thighs and chaffing in ungodly places. How about the runs where you run into every spiderweb, eat every flying bug coming at your face, chased by every vicious dog in the neighborhood, picked a route with every bit of uneven pavement causing your ankle to role out and you do the " Omg! I almost fell!" zigzag move and then keep trucking like nothing happened. Or my personal favorite, and have experienced numerous times - a flat out face-plant into the ground and maybe eat a little gravel while you're down there.
My runner peeps- you know what I mean by 'bad runs'. The ones where it's so hot outside you feel as if your smothering yourself and the term 'hot breath' just found a new meaning, or its freezing outside and your nose decides it wants to run with you and by the end of your run snot is frozen to your upper lip, you can't feel your face, and you swear your eyeballs are frozen. Or you forgot to put your Body Glide on and you're practically about to start a fire between your thighs and chaffing in ungodly places. How about the runs where you run into every spiderweb, eat every flying bug coming at your face, chased by every vicious dog in the neighborhood, picked a route with every bit of uneven pavement causing your ankle to role out and you do the " Omg! I almost fell!" zigzag move and then keep trucking like nothing happened. Or my personal favorite, and have experienced numerous times - a flat out face-plant into the ground and maybe eat a little gravel while you're down there.
During my runs over the past 2 weeks, I started reflecting back on those lovely hellacious runs. I realized that those runs I wanted to give up and quit, those runs that were an absolute nightmare, or comedy show for some spectators, I chose to push through them. Sure I may have had encouraging words along the way, but it was me who chose to push through, to take on those obstacles, to run through the pain, to put the hard work in, to just... keep.. ru-nning. Forrest Gump. I couldn't help myself. Those were the very runs that got me across the finish line, that gave me the sense of achievement, sense of accomplishment, the medal, 'the prize' I'd been running for. I have realized that it is the same with the race I'm running in life, good or bad runs, I run with perseverance and with each run, I peel away another layer of slowness and weakness. Another layer of fearfulness and doubt. And I become a better version of myself. I feel more secure, more grounded, stronger, and free. I learn more to live in the now and to trust and walk run in the presence of God.
Romans 5 3:5
3 "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His Love into our hearts..."
2012 was an uphill run full of bumps, scrapes and bruises along the way, feelings of going backwards and then suddenly springing forward. Running on rough terrain hoping to catch my breath only to have it stolen again by several beautiful moments standing at the top of many mountains in my life. A run full of surprises, truly an adrenaline rush full of all emotions -fearful but hopeful, nervous but courageous, troubled but tranquil, anxious but peaceful, weary but strong, lonely but loved. A run full of life.
I am ready to tighten up my laces, turn my music up, find the beat, and hit the ground running into 2013. And not with my face.
